Can I see the northern lights tonight? Forecast, times and locations. -

Update: Read our recap on how the northern lights dazzled skies across the globe from Monday night into Tuesday morning.

Right on cue, aurora season is lighting up.

This week, sky watchers may have the chance to see mesmerizing curtains of light — known as the northern lights or aurora borealis — dance across the night sky. Forecasts predict the lights could appear from Monday into Tuesday as far south as New York and Idaho, although some scientists say the activity could strengthen to give a light show down to Illinois or Oregon.

The geomagnetic storm that triggered Monday night’s aurora is forecast to weaken Tuesday night, but aurora could still be visible at high latitudes, in places like northern Canada, Alaska and far northern Europe.

Auroras are created when the sun sends a punch of energy and particles toward Earth, often from an eruption on the sun called a coronal mass ejection. Satellites detected a coronal mass ejection Saturday, and the particles of the ejection are expected to reach Earth into Tuesday.

Clear weather permitting, night owls may be able to see the natural phenomenon with their cameras or even naked eyes. Some have already reported sightings, including from Wisconsin and Manitoba.

Will you be able to see the northern lights this week?

Forecasts predict that the northern lights may appear Monday into Tuesday night, with the best viewing in pre-dawn hours. Traditionally, aurora activity has intensified in the weeks before and after an equinox, such as the one coming up Saturday.

What is the current northern lights forecast?

Brilliant auroras are generated during geomagnetic storms, typically caused when solar particles temporarily disturb Earth’s protective magnetic shielding. Geomagnetic storms are rated on a scale from G1 (minor) to G5 (extreme).

The official forecast by NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center anticipates a moderate (G2) storm, which could make an aurora appear as far south as New York and Idaho. Space weather scientist Tamitha Skov, however, doesn’t rule out the possibility of a G3 (strong) storm, which could mean an aurora sighting down to Illinois and Oregon.

It’s worth noting, though, that a G4 (severe) storm surprised scientists earlier this year, leading to sightings as far south as Arizona.

The weather generally seems favorable for viewing the aurora in the northern United States, with mainly clear skies expected. The exceptions will be in northern New England, where overcast skies will obstruct viewing, and in the Upper Midwest, where patchy cloud cover may make seeing the lights a challenge.

Where will the lights be visible? What will the lights look like where I live?

The location of the aurora borealis depends on the strength of the geomagnetic storm. The lights will appear differently at different latitudes and altitudes.

The colors correspond to the type and altitude of the element excited in Earth’s atmosphere. Excited oxygen atoms shine red when they are more than 120 miles above the surface but glow green from 60 to 120 miles. Excited nitrogen atoms give off pink or purple below 120 miles.

A more intense aurora — dancing greens or purples — is typically at higher latitudes. Lower latitudes usually see more red.

Will there be more aurora sightings soon?

One explanation for why aurora activity tends to pick up around the equinoxes is that Earth’s magnetic field is optimally positioned to receive charged particles from the sun. This loosely termed “aurora season” can last for weeks before or after the equinox, but the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center offers official forecasts for when activity is near.

Overall, aurora activity is expected to increase over the next few years as the sun enters a period of high activity and sunspots known as the solar maximum.

Jason Samenow contributed to this report.

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