Northern Lights Tonight: You Might See Them Without a Camera
- The aurora borealis is expected to be visible across much more of the northern U.S. than usual, thanks to a moderate geomagnetic storm watch issued for tonight. Key states like Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and even parts of New York and Washington could get a clear view if clouds stay away.
- Experts say you don't need any special filters or long-exposure settings to see the northern lights tonight with your naked eye, but you do need to wait until at least two hours after sunset and find a spot far from city lights. The best chances come between 10 PM and 2 AM local time.
- For real-time alerts, check NOAA's aurora forecast dashboard where you can set your location and see the Kp-index—a rating from 0 to 9. A Kp rating of 5 or higher tonight means the lights will likely push south of the Canadian border.
- If you're hoping to grab a photo, smartphones can actually capture the glow better than your eyes can. Set your phone to night mode, use a tripod, and keep the exposure at 3 to 10 seconds. Don't zoom in—just hold the camera steady.
- Finally, watch the weather tonight. Even if the northern lights are active, heavy cloud cover or snow squalls could ruin the show. Apps like Clear Outside or Zoom Earth give hour-by-hour cloud forecasts tailored for aurora chasers.