Can You See the Northern Lights Tonight? If You Live in These 15 States, They Might Be Visible on January 8

If you’ve always wanted to see the northern lights, you might be in luck tonight.

The northern lights — also called the aurora borealis — are an almost magical light show that seems to dance and float across the sky in an array of colors. Scientifically speaking the spectacle is caused when charged particles collide with the Earth’s atmosphere, according to BBC.

As their name suggests, the northern lights are most easily viewed the further north you are. However, on special occasions, they can be seen across more of the United States.

Tonight (January 8) into tomorrow (January 9) is one of those instances.

Head inside to find out how you can see the northern lights tonight…

According to reporting by PEOPLE, the northern lights will likely be visible across 15 states tonight. The list includes Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Maine, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Of course, they are most commonly viewed from Alaska, which is the most northern point in the country.

Living in one of the above-mentioned states is not a guarantee that you’ll be treated to a mystical light show.

Per PEOPLE, the best time to look for the lights is between 10 p.m. and 2 a. m. Chances are also higher if you are located further north and aren’t near concentrated lights, such as a big city.

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