The northern lights are expected to be "pleasing to look at" from several parts of the United States on Friday, June 27

When will the northern lights be visible?, Where will the northern lights be visible?, How to watch the northern lights?, How to take photos of the northern lights?

NEED TO KNOW

The northern lights are expected to be visible from several parts of the United States the night of Friday, June 27
The auroras are forecasted at three on the Kp scale, which means they can be "pleasing to look at" from Earth
This marks the second time the northern lights are forecast this week, following a three-day stretch Monday, June 23 through Wednesday, June 25

New favorite hobby unlocked: Northern lights spotting.

Another round of auroras is expected to color the night sky on Friday, June 27, marking the second time the astronomical phenomenon is forecast this week.

The northern lights are forecasted at three on the Kp scale, which ranges from zero to nine. Activity in the three to five range is considered moderate, meaning the auroras will move further from the poles with displays that can be "quite pleasing to look at" from Earth.

Northernmost areas across the United States are likely to have the best chances at spotting the colorful display, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s Space Weather Prediction Center's aurora view line.

Earlier this week, the northern lights were forecast for a three-day stretch, starting on Monday, June 23, and lasting through Wednesday, June 25. While there was potential to view them each night, the last day was predicted to be the strongest of the three, with a measurement of four on the Kp scale.

Read on for when and how to spot the northern lights from Earth tonight!

When will the northern lights be visible?

The northern lights are forecast for Friday, June 27, through early morning on Saturday, June 28, per NOAA's report. The best time to spot them from Earth is in the hours right after sunset and just before sunrise; note, the auroras can't be viewed in daylight.

Where will the northern lights be visible?

The northern lights will be visible from several parts of the United States, specifically the northernmost areas that border Canada. Northern Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin have the best chances at catching a glimpse.

How to watch the northern lights?

Despite the Kp forecast, there are several other factors that must align in order to spot the northern lights from Earth — the most important being weather conditions, like fog and clouds that can hinder the colorful display.

In addition, light pollution can impact northern light visibility, so it's best to point your eyes to the sky from dark locations — far away from city lights — to prevent them from drowning out the colors in the cosmos.

How to take photos of the northern lights?

The northern lights are cool, and it's even cooler that there's photo capability to capture them! Certain smartphones have a feature that allows users to take pictures of the auroras on camera by simply toggling on the "Night Mode" settings in the device.

Then, point your lens to the sky and snap away!