The Northern Lights are expected to appear this week across various states in the United States as a result of a solar storm.
The lights are projected to be seen in areas ranging from Alaska to Maryland during July 12 and 13.
According to the University of Alaska in Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute, activity will be at its peak on July 13, and people will have the incredible opportunity to view the mesmerizing aurora borealis in:
Montana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Indiana, Vermont, and Maryland are among the states represented.
The spectacle is expected to be visible on July 12 in Alaska, Washington, Iowa, Illinois, Ohio, and Massachusetts.
For the optimal viewing experience, experts suggest avoiding any sources of city lights and heading out to darker areas, as you need clear and dark skies to see the aurora.
The best time to witness this natural occurrence is between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. The university specifies local time.
Solar storms occur when the sun emits large bursts of energy known as solar flares and coronal mass ejections, according to NASA. Consider it as the sun displaying fireworks in space.
The Northern Lights occur when charged particles such as electrons and protons hit with gases in the Earth’s upper atmosphere. The collisions produce flashes of light that combine to form the auroras we see dancing across the skies.