More than a dozen northern U.S. states may see the northern lights Sunday evening, as the NOAA predicts a brighter aurora borealis.
NOAA predicted Sunday's northern lights will have a Kp index of five—on a scale of nine—meaning the aurora borealis will move farther from the poles and “become brighter” and have more “activity” than usual.
NOAA says the northern lights “can be quite pleasing to look at” when the index is three to five.
The Northern Lights will appear where? Officially, the northern lights will be best visible in Alaska on Sunday (see map below), but Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin all have a better chance of seeing them.
The northern lights may be visible in Iowa, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming under certain conditions, although the odds are minimal.
The Best Way to See Northern Lights? NOAA recommends witnessing the northern lights between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. The agency recommends finding a north-facing place away from city light pollution and on a hill to see the lights.
How Should I Photograph the Northern Lights? According to National Geographic, photographers recommend using a tripod to stabilize the camera and a wide-angle lens for northern lights photos.
Lenses with an aperture or F-stop of four or less are better for low-light conditions. National Geographic recommends using a tripod, turning off flash, and using night mode on an iPhone or other smartphone camera to keep it stable.