The Northern Lights Will Be Visible From 18 States -- Here's How To Watch

Astronomy aficionados, tonight's for you. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports that the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, will be visible in a whopping 18 states tonight. Nature's light show could continue the rest of the week, with visibility extending farther south than normal due to shifts in solar wind patterns, as observed by NOAA forecasters.

Northern lights are the result of charged Sun particles colliding with atoms in Earth's atmosphere. This interaction excites oxygen and nitrogen, creating a dazzling display of vivid colors like green, purple, and red.

"Aurora" is derived from the Roman goddess of the same name, who represents the dawn. "Aurora borealis" as a term first burst onto the scene as a description courtesy of French astronomer Pierre Gassendi in 1649. He used said term to recount an "auroral display" visible in France in 1621. Gassendi himself read the descriptor in Galileo Galilei's writings dating back to 1619. In 1828, the term finally entered the English language.

You can catch tonight's spectacle if you live in the following states: Alaska, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin. The northern lights will be at their strongest in the northernmost regions of the US, though.

You should head outside between the hours of 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., as that's when the lights will be at their peak. The auroras will reappear tomorrow night and, as mentioned above, for the remainder of the week.

For the best viewing experience, venture out to a location with the least light pollution. You don't need a special camera or equipment to capture the radiant display – your phone will do the trick. Just make sure to look up.