Photos Show the Northern Lights Illuminating the Sky in Vivid Color Across the U.S. Here's Where You Could See Them Tonight

The Northern Lights have been illuminating skies in glowing green and pink hues across the U.S. this week, and will be visible again in some parts of the country Thursday night.  The lights, also known as the aurora borealis, have been spotted over long stretches in a number of states starting Tuesday night, including in Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and even as far south as Florida and Alabama.  The aurora occurs when charged particles from solar flares interact with molecules in the earth’s magnetosphere, creating bursts of light.  Intense geomagnetic storms, which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center reported earlier this week were “eight times stronger than what’s normal,” have brought the Northern Lights to more widespread areas in the northern hemisphere in recent days. Here’s a look at the stunning lights that have been visible in the U.S.—and the forecasts for where they’ll be making an appearance on Thursday. Where will the Northern Lights be visible on Thursday? NOAA forecasts that the Northern Lights will be seen over large parts of Alaska, as well as more faintly in several northern states in the contiguous U.S., according to maps that track the path of the aurora. Those states include Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.  The lights do not need to be directly overhead for you to spot them, the agency notes. With the right conditions, they can be seen from hundreds of miles away.  How can you best see them?  The time of night, light pollution, cloud coverage, and other factors can all influence how well the lights can be seen.  They are not visible during the day, and can best be seen against a dark night sky. The most aurora activity usually occurs between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.  It’s best to stay away from cities, where light pollution can ruin the spectacle. Clouds and the brightness of the moon can also obscure the lights.  If the lights are faint in your area, they can often be enhanced by photographing them. Using a wide angle lens and a tripod—to prevent shaking—can improve photographs, as can setting a long exposure time. And don’t forget to turn off your flash!