Northern U.S. stargazers could be in for a second evening of awe and amazement. The northern lights could be seen in the United States tonight, Monday, June 2, due to ongoing geomagnetic activity, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said.

Also known as the aurora borealis, the northern lights are a wondrous natural phenomenon created as charged particles from the sun react with Earth's magnetic field. The lights would otherwise be limited to areas near the Arctic Circle, but intense solar storms can drive them much farther south — as far as the continental United States at times.

Which States Could See the Lights?

Based on NOAA's most recent forecast, the best opportunities to see northern lights visible in the U.S. tonight are in the border states of Canada. Conditions are local cloud cover and light pollution, but some northern states have better opportunities for viewing aurora, particularly late evening and early morning.

The best states with good odds on Monday night are:

·         Alaska – the best bet for sighting

·         Montana

·         North Dakota

·         Minnesota

·         Wisconsin

·         Michigan

These states lie in areas where the auroral oval is likely to stretch, thus it is more likely to see magnificent purple and green light shows in the air.

Potential Visibility in Central U.S.

While not guaranteed, several more interior U.S. states — including Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska — will also have at least a theoretical chance of seeing the aurora. If you're in these states, it's worth taking a look outside at night and looking north, especially at midnight when geomagnetic activity is usually most active.

Clear sky and minimal light pollution will be required for any hope of viewing the northern lights observed in the U.S. tonight, this far south.

Will They Be Seen on Tuesday?

The forecast suggests there's potential for northern lights activity to carry over into Tuesday night (June 3), but the likelihood will be less for the majority of the U.S. except Alaska. The further south you are, the less likely you'll be to see them. It's certainly worth keeping an eye on the latest reports, though, if you missed them Monday night.

Best Viewing Tips

To raise your chances of seeing the northern lights visible in U.S. tonight, use these easy tricks:

·         Go to a dark spot: Avoid urban areas and find a spot with minimal light pollution.

·         Turn around to face north: Auroras will be brightest low on the northern horizon.

·         Monitor with apps or trackers: Aurora Alerts or the Space Weather Prediction Center from NOAA gives real-time updates.

·         Be out long enough: The aurora doesn't always appear immediately—stay outside for at least 30 minutes for the best chance.

·         Wear warm attire: Northern state nights are still chilly, even during June.

Why Are the Northern Lights Visible Now?

This new phenomenon is due to an increase in solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the sun. These bursts of solar energy, upon reaching the Earth's magnetic field, disturb it, and the auroral oval gets inflated, allowing the northern lights to be witnessed more to the south than they otherwise would.

Although they are relatively rare, they present unique opportunities for individuals living in the lower 48 states to observe what is normally the privilege of the Arctic.

Final Word

Tonight could be your opportunity to see one of nature's more dazzling displays — in the comfort of your own backyard.

With northern lights visible in the U.S. tonight, it's a good time to turn off the electronics, look up, and appreciate how wonderful and mysterious our universe is. Monitor aurora chasing apps and NOAA alerts for real-time visibility updates, and don't forget to share your photos if you spot it!