Northern Lights: The best way to view the weather phenomenon
KANSAS CITY, MO. — As the summer heats up, the chance for Midwesterners to catch the aurora borealis, also known as northern lights, increases.
The phenomenon often best seen in states such as Alaska, occasionally makes its way closer to a few other North American states, giving others a chance to take a look up to the sky and marvel at the dazzling light show.
Northern lights, infrastructure impacts possible due to 'severe' geomagnetic storm: What to know
Sunday, June 1, gave some northern Missourians a better chance to catch the lights. However, it is uncertain when the next best chance to catch the spectacle will be for parts of the midwest.
This uncertainty is widely due to the light's appearance relying on 'just right' conditions. These conditions include a mix of interactions between solar wind streaming out from the sun and Earth's magnetic field, according to the NOAA.
Here's a few tips to help you better see the lights when those 'just right' conditions come back around:
The NOAA suggests for the best viewing opportunity, to head towards the magnetic polls. This means heading more north of your area.
It must be dark out to catch a glimpse of the blue, green, and purple lights. This means times between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. are typically best.
To ensure darkness, look for areas outside of major cities where light pollution is less intense.
Keep up with the NOAA and your local weather team.
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Trying some of the above tips may help increase your chances of catching the lights in all of their glory.
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