How to view tonight's aurora in New England

Key Points:

• A moderate geomagnetic storm (level G2 out of 5) caused by a coronal mass ejection (CME) is expected overnight Thursday into early Friday, potentially making the Northern Lights visible across New England, possibly as far south as Massachusetts or New Jersey.
• The CME is predicted to be a glancing blow, meaning the storm may be weaker or miss entirely, but this event offers a rare chance to see the aurora borealis following the recent Solar Maximum period.
• Clear skies and minimal moonlight due to high pressure and a new moon phase will provide favorable viewing conditions, with the best time to look being between 3 a.m. and 5:30 a.m., though earlier viewing around 11 p.m. to midnight is also suggested.
• Observers are advised to find dark locations away from light pollution and to use smartphones to capture the aurora, as cameras can detect wavelengths not always visible to the naked eye.
• Space weather updates can be monitored in real time via NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, watching for specific changes in Earth's magnetic field and solar wind speed to time the best viewing opportunities.