[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text dp_text_size=”size-4″]Skywatchers in 17 American states will have the opportunity to see the Northern Lights this Thursday.
Northern Lights, also known as aurora borealis, are most commonly observed in Alaska, Canada, and Scandinavia. An 11-year solar cycle, which is scheduled to climax in 2024, is causing the lights to be visible further south.
When a magnetic solar wind collides with the Earth’s magnetic field, it causes atoms in the upper atmosphere to light.
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Alaska, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, Indiana, Maine, and Maryland are expected to have auroral activity on Thursday.
According to the institute, light displays will be visible overhead in Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and Helena, Montana, and low on the horizon in Salem, Oregon; Boise, Idaho; Cheyenne, Wyoming; Annapolis, Maryland; and Indianapolis.
Those who want to see the spectacle should avoid the city lights. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Centre, the best viewing hours are between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]