How to Watch the Upcoming Northern Lights and Where They Will Be Visible

Get ready for some fantastical colors in the sky! Another northern lights display could be coming your way. 

After a rare severe geomagnetic storm made the northern lights visible in May, another storm is approaching. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center, a geomagnetic storm watch is slated for July 24. 

As the NOAA previously stated, the storms can “trigger spectacular displays of aurora” specifically in some northern and upper Midwest states. 

Usually, the northern lights (also called aurora borealis) are best viewed from high northern latitudes during the winter such as in Alaska, Canada and Scandinavia, so the upcoming storm could create a rare opportunity for those in other places of the world to see the phenomenon.

Though the northern lights don’t have any direct correlation with the zodiac signs, these northern lights in particular could heighten our emotional sensitivity since they are triggered by solar activity. 

Here’s everything to know about the northern lights in July, including when to watch and where they’ll be visible. 

When will the northern lights be visible? 

If you’re hoping to catch a glimpse of the northern lights, you’ll need to stay up late. Per an alert issued by the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center, the northern lights are predicted to be visible between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. ET on July 24. 

Space weather physicist Tamitha Skov previously told Newsweek that the solar storms are “often fashionably late,” meaning that it's likely they'll appear on the later side of that time frame. “A lot of slow solar wind is ahead of this CME and it has to push through all of this during its journey, which tends to slow the storm down a bit compared to the model predictions,” Skov noted.

Where will the northern lights be visible? 

The upcoming northern lights will be a result of a G2-class geomagnetic storm, which is typically seen as far south as New York and Idaho, per Forbes. For comparison, May’s northern lights were the result of a G5 geomagnetic storm, making it visible across many more states. 

Forbes reports that only a handful of U.S. states will get a glimpse of the northern lights including Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Michigan, Montana, Minnesota, the northernmost part of New York and Maine.

How to watch the northern lights? 

First and foremost, it’s important to find a viewing spot that’s dark and has limited light pollution. You’ll also want to tune into the weather channel beforehand as clear skies are necessary to view the aurora. The NOAA also advises that you find a higher vantage point, such as a hilltop.

The NOAA has an aurora forecast that further details where the lights will be visible from Earth. 

How to take photos of the northern lights?

Once you’ve found the perfect spot to see the northern lights, you’ll want to put your phone on night mode to get the best picture. Oftentimes, smartphones are able to pick up the northern lights even when they’re not visible to the naked eye. 

In Iceland, authorities have shared a few tips on how to best capture the northern lights. According to the website, photographers should use a tripod, which is “essential for long exposures in low light;” lock your phone’s focus to the “infinity” setting; do not use a flash; and consider apps like Northern Lights Photo Taker, NightCap Camera, ProCamera and Slow Shutter for iOS, and for Android, ProCam X Lite.