Illinois residents could catch a glimpse of the aurora borealis Friday night, along with residents in more than two dozen states in the northern United States.
The K-index — a scale that measures how far away from the poles the northern lights could be visible — is predicted as a 6 out of 9 for April 17, which indicates a quite bright and active aurora, per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
On another geomagnetic storm scale, NOAA ranks the event a G2, which is considered a moderate event.
Here’s how to try to catch a glimpse of the aurora in Illinois.
What is the aurora borealis?
The northern lights are a natural phenomenon formally known as the aurora borealis. It can project colorful lights in the night sky thanks to an interaction between the sun’s plasma and Earth’s magnetic field, according to the National Weather Service.
What time could the northern lights be visible in Illinois?
The aurora is not visible during daylight hours.
The best view of the northern lights is generally within an hour or two of midnight or just after sunset and just before sunrise, according to NOAA.
This week, the lights will likely be the brightest between 4 p.m. Friday and 1 a.m. Saturday, as shown by a University of Alaska Fairbanks forecast.
Where could the northern lights be visible?
About 33 states are expected to be partially or fully within the University of Alaska’s forecasted “view line” for the northern lights on Friday, April 17. This includes the majority of Illinois, save for the southernmost tip.
The view line indicates the southernmost point where the aurora could be seen on the northern horizon, though this is just a prediction. The aurora can be seen further under bright conditions, according to NOAA.
The following states could catch a glimpse of the lights, according to the forecast:
Will skies be clear in Illinois Friday night? Will aurora be visible?
Seeing the aurora as far south as Illinois, of course, depends on if the weather cooperates. Unfortunately, this may prove difficult this weekend due to challenging weather.
Friday night will see off-and-on showers and a chance of thunderstorms in Chicago and central Illinois, with lows in around 47-48 degrees, according to the NWS. Gusts as high as 30 mph are also possible.
Best places to view northern lights in Illinois
State parks and campgrounds are your best bet for clear stargazing in Illinois, in locations such as Campsite 26 at Apple River Canyon State Park and the Area 4 Parking Lot at Iroquois County State Wildlife Area. A full list of the best stargazing spots in Illinois can be found on the Department of Natural Resources website.
For those in Chicago, stars will be more visible on the city lakefront, the Palos Preserves in Willow Springs and the 606 Trail at 1801 N. Ridgeway, according to a list compiled by the Adler Planetarium.
How to photograph the northern lights with your phone
In 2024, Brent Gordon, chief of space weather services branch for NOAA, told reporters using a smartphone could be the best way to view the northern lights — even better than the human eye.
According to the aurora tracking app hello aurora, here are some tips for getting photos of the northern lights on smartphone:
1. Use a tripod or stand
2. Enable night mode on your phone
3. Want more control? Manually change your phone camera settings
4. Turn flash off
5. Use a timer or remote shutter (if you have one)
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Northern lights could appear over US tonight. Will Illinois see?
Reporting by Hannah Hudnall and John Tufts, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
