Even if you’re not intending to watch fireworks this New Year’s Eve, you might consider looking up at the sky on Tuesday night. The **Northern Lights**, or aurora borealis, are anticipated to make another stunning appearance this week, providing a natural light display to usher in the new year along the U.S.-Canadian border. Here’s how you can witness the last aurora borealis display of 2024.
### Northern Lights Forecast for New Year’s Eve
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (**NOAA**) [Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC)](https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/alerts-watches-and-warnings) has projected that the Northern Lights may be observable across numerous northern U.S. states on December 31, with the display possibly extending into New Year’s Day. Individuals in parts of the lower Midwest and even as far west as Oregon might catch a view if conditions align, though the highest likelihood is for those situated farther north.
This mesmerizing natural phenomenon is connected to solar activity over the weekend, which included two [coronal mass ejections (CMEs)](https://mashable.com/article/sun-solar-ejection-nasa-footage) from the Sun. These ejections are set to reach Earth, leading the SWPC to issue a [strong G3 geomagnetic storm watch](https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/new-years-eve-day-geomagnetic-storm-anticipated-g3-watch) for December 31 and a minor G1 watch for January 1. Per the [NOAA Space Weather Scales](https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation), a G3 geomagnetic storm can potentially interfere with radio communications, satellite navigation, and power systems. However, such disruptions are generally minimal and manageable, so there’s no need to be concerned while enjoying the celestial display. If you’re fortunate, the aurora might even enhance your local New Year’s Eve fireworks.
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### Best Tips for Viewing the Northern Lights
If you’re eager to see this year-end aurora borealis, you could just step outside on Tuesday night, look up, and cross your fingers. Under ideal conditions, [auroras can be seen from over 600 miles away](https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/tips-viewing-aurora). However, a little preparation can greatly boost your chances of witnessing something remarkable.
The SWPC suggests that the optimal time to view the Northern Lights is between **10 p.m. and 2 a.m.**, when geomagnetic activity is at its peak and the sky is darkest. Although the aurora may technically be visible during daylight, it is significantly harder to see against a bright sky.
To improve your viewing experience, aim to reduce light pollution. Areas near the U.S.-Canadian border recognized as [Certified Dark Sky Places](https://darksky.org/what-we-do/international-dark-sky-places/all-places/?_location_dropdown=usa) provide some of the best chances for unobstructed views of the aurora. These regions are noted for their extremely low artificial light levels, making them perfect for stargazing and aurora observation.
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### What Causes the Northern Lights?
While the Northern Lights appear within Earth’s atmosphere, their origins are rooted in activity on the Sun’s surface. When the Sun experiences a [solar flare](https://mashable.com/article/solar-flares-sun-active-why) or a coronal mass ejection, plasma and magnetic fields from its outer layers are hurled into space. This generates a solar wind capable of heading toward Earth, although the journey can take from 15 hours up to several days. Radiation from solar flares can, however, reach Earth in as quickly as [eight minutes](https://www.space.com/solar-flares-effects-classification-formation).
Upon reaching Earth, the majority of the charged particles are [deflected by the planet’s magnetic field](https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/what-causes-northern-lights-aurora-borealis-explained). Nonetheless, some particles penetrate to the polar regions, where the magnetic field is less dense. There, they bump into oxygen and nitrogen atoms in the atmosphere, causing a chemical reaction that generates the brilliant lights we know as auroras.
In the Northern Hemisphere, these lights are termed the **aurora borealis**, or Northern Lights, while their Southern Hemisphere equivalent is referred to as the **aurora australis**, or Southern Lights.
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### A Natural New Year’s Celebration
As we get ready to embrace 2025, the Northern Lights provide an awe-inspiring way to commemorate the arrival of the new year. Whether you’re situated in the northern U.S. or planning a visit to a dark-sky area, take