The aurora borealis is expected to be "quite pleasing to look at" from several locations across the northern United States

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 will be active on Monday, July 14, and Tuesday, July 15, across several parts of the United States
The auroras have a three on the Kp index on back-to-back nights, meaning they can be "quite pleasing to look at" from Earth under perfect conditions
The northern lights can be viewed with the naked eye, requiring no advanced technology to catch a glimpse of the colorful display

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Mother Nature is back at it again with another round of northern lights, with auroras forecast for Monday, July 14, and Tuesday, July 15, to kick off the week, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s Space Weather Prediction Center.

The back-to-back northern lights that are expected have a forecast of three on the Kp index, which measures the intensity of the auroras on a scale that ranges from zero to nine. This means the colorful display can be "quite pleasing to look at" if the conditions align.

Better yet, while the northern lights are most commonly visible from regions close to the Earth's North Magnetic Pole — including parts of Scandinavia, Iceland, Greenland and Canada — this round of auroras is expected to be visible from several parts of the United States.

Unlike most astronomical events, like meteor showers and comet sightings, zero technology is required to catch a glimpse of the northern lights from Earth. Simply, the naked eye and perfect weather conditions are needed to spot the spectacular phenomenon.

This round of northern lights come a few days after the auroras were forecast for back-to-back nights on Friday, July 11, and Saturday, July 12, last week. Similarly, they also had a three on the Kp index and were predicted to be visible from the northernmost parts of the United States.

To learn where and when the northern lights will be visible tonight and tomorrow, read on!

When will the northern lights be visible?

The northern lights will be active on Monday, July 14 and Tuesday, July 15 from select parts of the United States, according to NOAA's forecast. Look to the sky in the hours surrounding midnight for the best chances at catching a glimpse of the colorful display (Note, they won't be visible in daylight).

On both nights, the auroras have a three on the Kp index, meaning they are expected to move further from the poles, becoming "brighter" with "more auroral activity." Under perfect conditions, the display can be "quite pleasing to look at," per NOAA.

Where will the northern lights be visible?

The northern lights are predicted to be visible from the northernmost parts of the United States, primarily the states bordering Canada. They include Alaska, northeastern Washington, northern Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and the northernmost part of Michigan.

How to watch the northern lights?

Fortunately, no advanced technology is needed to watch the northern lights, just the naked eye. However, there are viewing tips skywatchers should consider when pointing their eyes to the sky.

The most important? Avoid light pollution, meaning, find the darkest location in your area — like away from city lights — to prevent the artificial glow from drowning out the colorful display in the night.

Mother nature is another factor skywatchers should consider; however, this element is largely out of everyone's control. Clear skies are the preferred conditions for spotting the northern lights, so cross your fingers for zero rain or clouds that can hinder views.

How to take photos of the northern lights?

Imagining taking a photo of the northern lights so you can remember the fascinating phenomenon forever? Fortunately, you can!

Depending on your cellular device, certain smartphones have a high-tech capability to capture the auroras on camera if you toggle on the "Night Mode" settings in your device. Then, all you have to do is point your lens to the sky and snap away!