Discovering the Magical Spots to Witness the Northern Lights This Christmas Eve

Topline

A beneficial aurora borealis forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration indicates that some of the northernmost states in the U.S. will have the opportunity to see the northern lights this Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Key Facts

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Where Will The Northern Lights Be Visible Thursday Night?

Areas within the viewing line include northern Washington, northern Idaho, most of Montana, North Dakota, northern South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, northern Michigan, and northern Maine, as well as the majority of Canada and Alaska.

How Can You Watch The Northern Lights?

NOAA suggests that sky watchers observe the aurora borealis during the peak hours of 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. It also recommends that viewers attempt to watch the lights from locations with minimal light pollution and clear skies.

How Can You Photograph The Lights?

Individuals using smartphones should activate night mode when capturing photographs of the northern lights. If feasible, employing low shutter speeds and wide apertures can enhance the chances of taking a better picture.

Key Background

2024 has been marked as a remarkable year for auroral activity, featuring a notably strong display in May that resulted in the most powerful geomagnetic storm for Earth in two decades, according to NASA, which noted that this display also potentially generated one of the strongest aurora displays in the last 500 years. Forecasters anticipate a continuation of unusually lively northern lights activity in 2025 due to a “solar maximum” reached on the solar surface. A “solar maximum” represents the most active cycle of the sun’s 11-year solar cycle, leading to an increase in sunspots that are the source of solar eruptions, which can result in geomagnetic storms on Earth. This period of increased solar activity is expected to persist into the coming year, according to NASA, resulting in stronger and more frequent displays of aurora borealis.

Further Reading

NASA, NOAA: Sun Reaches Maximum Phase in 11-Year Solar Cycle (NASA)

Northern Lights: The aurora that amazed us in 2024 (BBC)