Northern lights may be viewable in 15 US states on Oct. 16. Where, when to see it.

Some lucky Americans may get a chance to view nature’s dazzling light show, the northern lights, from 15 U.S. states tonight.

The phenomenon will be viewable beginning in the late-night hours of Thursday, Oct. 16, into the early morning of Friday, Oct. 17, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center.

NOAA predicts a moderate geomagnetic storm caused by solar eruptions that sent charged particles towards Earth’s magnetic pull earlier this week, meaning the lights could be seen a bit further south than usual. The coveted light display will be most visible to lucky Canadians and residents of Alaska, along with a select handful of northern U.S. states.

Here’s what to know about this week’s chance to view the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights.

When will the aurora borealis be viewable?

People in Canada and 15 U.S. states may get chances to see the aurora display the night of Thursday, Oct. 16, into early Friday morning, Oct. 17. The geomagnetic storm behind the lights is expected to peak between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET, according to NOAA’s projection, though this can vary significantly by location and as forecasts are updated.

Predicting the timing to view is a less-than-perfect science, as experts rely on NASA satellites to measure the impacts of the solar wind and magnetic intensity. Check NOAA’s 30-minute Aurora forecast to get regular updates on the best times for viewing.

Which states will be able to see the aurora borealis?

In the United States, the celestial display will only be viewable in the northernmost region. According to NOAA’s projection, this could include at least some visibility from:

What are the ‘northern lights’, aka aurora borealis?

The northern lights are a luminous glow seen around the magnetic poles of the northern and southern hemispheres, according to the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute. Known for creating ribbons of colorful light in the night sky, the aurora borealis are polar lights, or aurora polaris, that appear in the northern hemisphere.

The southern hemisphere has its own polar lights known as the southern lights, or aurora australis, which create their own dazzling display.

Put simply, auroras are a result of the sun interacting with the Earth’s atmosphere. A collision between electrically charged particles from the sun and gases in Earth’s atmosphere produces a series of minuscule flashes that appear like moving lights in the sky. The charged particles are pulled toward the North and South poles due to Earth’s magnetic field.

While that magnetic field usually protects the Earth from solar winds, the winds can occasionally get strong enough to bypass the field, allowing particles and gases in the magnetosphere to interact and generate the colorful displays, according to the Geophysical Institute and the Canadian Space Agency.

Tips for viewing the northern lights

The top tip for getting the best view of the northern lights is finding a dark spot away from light pollution. Space.com recommends finding a location as far as possible from city lights and heading out there as soon as the sky gets dark. Then, it’s a waiting game.

Find a north-facing view with a clear horizon and exercise patience, as the lights often come in waves, said Space.com. You can also download apps to track aurora forecasts based on your location, such as “My Aurora Forecast & Alerts.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Northern lights may be viewable in 15 states on Oct. 16. See where.