The auroras are back. See which states could have the best views.

The aurora borealis is back and is expected to be on display through the weekend.

The National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration has predicted the states with the best views include several in the northern parts of the U.S.

On Jan. 20, the sun experienced a coronal mass ejection, which is what causes the auroras, according to NASA. The space agency said the ejection was an M5.5-class flare – a medium-strength solar flare – and is headed toward Earth. A G2-level geomagnetic storm, classified as a "moderate" storm, is predicted by NOAA. Because these are projections, they could change as more information emerges.

Best places to see the aurora borealis?

The northern lights should be visible in several northern states this weekend if the weather is clear. They are: Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Michigan, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

On Friday evening, in portions of Wyoming, northern Iowa, northern New York, Vermont and New Hampshire, the aurora will be more intense and visible. The solar storm's fiercest phase is expected to come in the early hours of Saturday. Sunday evening and continuing into Monday, the aurora borealis should begin to fade, according to NOAA's forecast.

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Earth's magnetic field is a protective shield

Earth's magnetic field creates an invisible barrier that shields us from the solar winds. The magnetic field can be disrupted by stronger solar winds; the stunning auroras are created when the storm's particle stream interacts with gases in the planet's magnetic field.

During very large auroral events, the display can be seen throughout the U.S. and Europe, but these events are rare. In an extreme event in 1958, the aurora was visible from Mexico City, the University of Alaska reported.

What causes the aurora borealis?

When the sun releases solar flares, they carry plasma particles toward Earth.

Atoms in air molecules in Earth's magnetic field are stimulated when charged electrons from the sun collide with them. As the molecules settle, they emit light. Green and red light are emitted by oxygen. The color of nitrogen is blue and purple.

Do not worry if you do not see the auroras this weekend. The solar maximum, the apex of the sun's 11-year activity cycle, is when all types of solar weather, which includes more coronal mass ejections and geomagnetic storms, will occur most frequently. Astronomers at NASA said in October 2024 that our star had just started this part of its current cycle and that it will likely experience increased storm activity for some years to come.

SOURCE NASA, NOAA, LiveScience, CNET.com, Space.com and Paste BN research