It's good news for aurora chasers as peak auroral activity occurs a few years after solar maximum, according to Brekke. This means the best time to see the northern lights and the southern lights will be during the 2026-2027 aurora season.

Auroral activity might become visible to a portion of the northern U.S. on Thursday night, as geomagnetic storm conditions will likely be calm through Saturday, according to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast.

The Northern Lights, also known as aurora borealis, are created when charged particles from the sun interact with Earth's atmosphere. These charged particles are called "solar win

Canada and Alaska will have the best chance of viewing the northern lights this evening, according to the NOAA. Other parts of the U.S., including Montana, North Dakota, and Minnesota, may also catch a glimpse of the aurora borealis, but chances are relatively low.

Geomagnetic storm conditions are expected on Saturday night, likely pulling the northern lights further south below the Canadian border, according to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast.

The holidays are lighting up already. Space weather forecasts have suggested that several states, including parts of New York, may get yet another rare opportunity to view the aurora borealis early this week.