You may have the opportunity to view an Aurora Borealis, better known as the Northern Lights on Thursday night into Friday morning thanks in part to a solar storm.
According to the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska at Fairbanks, the Northern Lights are expected to be seen in seventeen different states, ranging from North Dakota to Maryland, and here in Wisconsin. The lights are usually seen in the northern parts of North America, in places such as Canada, Alaska and Scandinavia, but an eleven-year solar cycle is making them be seen in further south areas.
The Geophysical Institute has Thursday’s solar storm making the Northern Lights viewing at a 6 on the Kp, which is a scale-out of nine, with nine being bright and active. The best time to view the Northern Lights is said to be 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., and those who would like to see the lights are advised to get away from any city lights.
Viewing the Aurora Borealis isn’t as easy as just looking into the sky at times however, as the Thursday night forecast has Door County with some “Patchy Clouds” overnight.