Northern Lights Visible in 10 States This Weekend

Grab your camera and set your alarm because nature is putting on a free light show this weekend across the northern United States.

Ten states from coast to coast could see the aurora borealis Saturday and Sunday nights, thanks to solar winds racing toward Earth from a coronal hole on the sun. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts the display will be "quite pleasing to look at."

Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, and Maine all fall within the viewing zone. Northern parts of New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire might catch the show too.

A coronal hole sounds scary, but it's actually just an area where energy escapes more freely from the sun's surface. When those solar particles reach Earth and interact with our magnetic field, they create the dancing lights we call the northern lights.

The best viewing window runs from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. both nights. NOAA scientists say the activity could extend beyond those hours if the geomagnetic storm strengthens.

Why This Inspires

Events like this remind us that we live on a planet constantly bathed in cosmic wonder. The same sun that warms our days occasionally sends us nighttime gifts that have amazed humans for thousands of years.

You don't need expensive equipment to enjoy the show. Just find a spot away from city lights, look north, and let your eyes adjust to the darkness. If you want to capture photos, smartphones with night mode work surprisingly well, especially with a tripod to steady your shot.

This weekend's aurora won't just light up the sky. It will bring families outside together, create memories for kids seeing their first northern lights, and remind us that some of the best experiences in life are still completely free.

Get outside and look up.