You need dark skies. City lights are the aurora’s mortal enemy. They drown out the subtle glow like a bad karaoke singer ruining a ballad.
Ideally, you’re near the Arctic Circle—Alaska, Canada, Iceland, Norway. But sometimes, a strong storm pushes the show south. People in Michigan or Scotland have seen it.
If you’re in Texas? Don’t hold your breath. You’ll need a Kp-index of 8 or 9, which is like winning the cosmic lottery.
Quirky Fact: The Lights Have a Favorite Color
Green is the most common color. That’s because oxygen atoms 60 miles up get excited and glow like a cheap glow stick. Pink happens when it’s higher up.
The Northern Lights will be visible in the U.S. tonight. Here's how to
Ever seen purple or red? That’s rare. That’s the aurora flexing. It means the storm is so intense, it’s messing with nitrogen way high in the atmosphere.
If you see blue, you’re basically an aurora wizard. That requires massive energy and very low altitude.
