These States May See The Aurora Friday Night
Forbes • • science
Key Points:
- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts a low chance of seeing the northern lights Friday night in eight northern U.S. states, including parts of Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan's Upper Peninsula, with Alaska having a strong chance.
- Optimal viewing conditions include locations with minimal light pollution and moonlight, with Friday's waning crescent moon providing favorable darkness; the best time to observe is between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. when auroral activity is typically higher.
- For photography, using night mode on phones, avoiding flash, employing tripods, and selecting low aperture settings can enhance the quality of northern lights images.
- The year 2026 is expected to mark the end of a period of consistent and strong auroral activity following the solar cycle peak in 2024, which produced the most intense northern lights displays in 500 years.