Northern Lights (Representative Image)
Photo : iStock
Some northern US states may get a chance to see the northern lights on Tuesday night, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
NOAA is forecasting a Kp index of 3 out of 9, which means the aurora could be visible slightly farther south than usual, reported Forbes. The lights might be spotted in parts of northeastern Washington, northern Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, northern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin, and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The sight will be “quite pleasing to look at,” NOAA said in the forecast.
This will most likely be the best opportunity of the week, with lower activity expected on Wednesday and Thursday. No strong geomagnetic storms or increased solar radiation are expected through Thursday night.
For the best chance to see the aurora, NOAA recommends that you go to a high, north-facing area, which has less pollution, between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time.
To photograph the northern lights, NASA suggests turning off flash, using night mode, and choosing a slower shutter speed on a smartphone. For cameras, use a tripod, wide-angle lens, and set the focus to the farthest point with an aperture of f/4 or less, reported Forbes.
