Topline<\/p>\n
The northern lights could be visible from some northern states along the U.S.-Canadian border on Tuesday night, according to a forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as forecasters expect a coronal mass ejection to cause minor geomagnetic storms after reaching Earth.<\/p>\n
The aurora could be visible from some states along the U.S.-Canadian border, according to a forecast.<\/p>\n
Getty ImagesKey Facts<\/p>\n
NOAA is predicting a Kp index of four out of nine for Tuesday night, meaning the northern lights could be visible from certain states and appear brighter with more \u201cmotion and formations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Forecasters are also warning of minor geomagnetic storms on Tuesday and early Wednesday morning, according to NOAA\u2019s three-day forecast, likely caused by a coronal mass ejection or solar winds.<\/p>\n
What Are Coronal Mass Ejections?<\/p>\n
Coronal mass ejections are expulsions of solar material with embedded magnetic fields that erupt from the Sun\u2019s corona, or outer layer of atmosphere. This material often has a stronger magnetic field than background solar winds, according to NOAA, which can cause geomagnetic storms when it interacts with the Earth\u2019s own magnetosphere. Forecasters at NOAA also said Tuesday\u2019s geomagnetic storms could be caused by a co-rotating interaction region\u2014a compression region created by high speed solar winds interacting with slower, background solar winds. The storms expected on Tuesday and Wednesday are only expected to be minor\u2014rated a G1 out of on NOAA\u2019s scale<\/a>. However, even minor storms can cause the northern lights to appear visible further south.<\/p>\n Where Could the Northern Lights Be Visible?<\/p>\n States along the U.S.-Canada border have a \u201clow\u201d likelihood for visibility on Tuesday night, according to NOAA\u2019s prediction map. These include northern Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan\u2019s Upper Peninsula. Most of Alaska could also see the aurora, according to NOAA\u2019s predictions. However, the sun sets extremely late in Alaska during the summer months, meaning it likely won\u2019t get dark enough in most of the state for the aurora to be visible.<\/p>\n What\u2019s the Best Way to View the Northern Lights?<\/p>\n Experts at NOAA recommend prospective viewers travel as far north as possible, towards Earth\u2019s magnetic north pole located in northern Canada. They should position themselves on a vantage point, like a hill with a clear view of the sky and far enough away from cities or other light sources. The lights are most active in the hours just around midnight, according to NOAA, meaning viewers should try to catch the aurora between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.<\/p>\n What\u2019s the Best Way to Photograph the Northern Lights?<\/p>\n