Get ready to add “aurora chaser” to your resume. After weeks of solar silence, our favorite star decided to throw a spectacular tantrum, launching three powerful solar flares toward Earth that could light up the night sky from Alaska all the way down to Illinois with the northern lights tonight. Here’s why, where, when, and more.
When the sun gets cranky
On August 3-4, a particularly active patch of the sun called AR4168 decided to show off, firing off what scientists call coronal mass ejections (CMEs) — basically cosmic snowballs of charged particles hurtling through space at mind-bending speeds. The strongest blast, classified as an M4.4-class flare, erupted on August 5 and is now racing toward our planet like the universe’s most beautiful delivery package.
Think of solar flares like the sun’s version of a sneeze. And when our star sneezes, Earth says “bless you” with stunning light shows dancing across the sky, aka the northern lights.
Your 48-hour aurora window
Here’s where it gets exciting: space weather forecasters predict these solar particles will give Earth’s magnetic field a gentle nudge sometime between August 7-8, potentially triggering what scientists call geomagnetic storms and we normal people call the auroras. Don’t worry — the word “storm” sounds scary, but for us earthlings, it’s more like nature’s most spectacular light show.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts minor to moderate geomagnetic activity, with the sweet spot for aurora viewing likely hitting between 11 PM on August 7 and 5 AM on August 8. However, the UK Met Office suggests the show might be delayed until the night of August 8–9. Solar storms are notoriously unpredictable, like trying to time when your cat will finally come when called.
Where to catch the show
Eighteen states could witness this celestial spectacle, stretching much further south than usual. Alaska and Montana have front-row seats to the northern lights tonight, but the aurora viewing line extends down through the northern Midwest and Northeast, potentially reaching as far south as Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska.
The full lineup of potential aurora-viewing states includes Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Maine, South Dakota, Vermont, New Hampshire, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, New York, Wyoming, Iowa, Nebraska, and Illinois.
Aurora hunting 101
Ready to become an aurora hunter? Here’s your game plan:
Find your spot: Head north-facing with the clearest horizon view possible. Light pollution is the aurora’s biggest enemy, so drive away from city lights. Think rural roads, lakeshores, or that hill outside town where teenagers used to park.
Time it right: Peak viewing typically occurs around 2 AM local time, when the sky is darkest. But since solar storms operate on cosmic time, start watching as soon as darkness falls.
Be patient: Auroras can be shy performers. Sometimes they appear as faint green glows that your camera picks up better than your eyes. Other times, they’ll dance across the sky in ribbons of green, pink, and purple that’ll make you forget to breathe.
Get appy: Download aurora forecast apps like “My Aurora Forecast & Alerts” or “Space Weather Live” to get real-time updates on whether conditions are prime for viewing.
A little science behind the magic
When those solar particles slam into Earth’s magnetic field, they get funneled toward our magnetic poles. As they collide with oxygen and nitrogen in our atmosphere, they create those otherworldly colors – green from oxygen, blue and purple from nitrogen.
Don’t worry about safety; Earth’s atmosphere and magnetic field protect us from harmful radiation. The only thing getting zapped will be your Instagram followers when you post those incredible photos.
So grab a blanket, some hot coffee, and maybe a lawn chair. The next 48 hours could offer a front-row seat to one of nature’s most incredible performances, no ticket required.
