The northern lights are more visible through the winter months as the days shorten, though they can be seen throughout the year depending on solar activity. Aurora borealis is best seen between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time, according to NOAA, which recommends traveling to a high vantage point away from light pollution to observe the phenomenon.

The northern lights could be visible in more than 10 states, including parts of Michigan, on Friday and Saturday.

The window of time between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. usually provides viewers with their best chance at seeing the northern lights. Areas with little to no light pollution, as well as high vantage points, can increase the likelihood of seeing the aurora borealis.

A coronal mass ejection hurtling from the sun toward Earth could trigger a geomagnetic storm, making the northern lights visible in up to 18 US states

Imagine looking up on a dark winter night to see rippling ribbons of green and purple light dancing across the sky. The Northern Lights, or aurora borealis, are nature’s ultimate sky show – an ethereal phenomenon that has captivated humans for millennia.

In the Midwest, northern Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula could all see aurora formation Sunday night, according to NOAA’s forecast. Most of North Dakota, Alaska and a large portion of Montana could also see the lights, while small slivers of extreme northern Idaho and northeastern Washington are also within the view line.

A solar storm continues to impact our atmosphere and that means the aurora may be visible the next couple of nights. Could we see the northern lights tonight? A geomagnetic storm has been impacting earth and as of 2 a.