How and Where You Could See the Northern Lights 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.