Northern lights illuminate the sky across 22 states tonight — here’s who gets to see the show

Northern Lights Visible Across 22 States Tonight

A recent solar event has sparked an impressive aurora display, potentially visible to millions. Stargazers in New York and many other states could witness a spectacular light show tonight thanks to a strong geomagnetic storm.

Solar Flare and Coronal Mass Ejection

On November 5, an M7.4 solar flare erupted from the sun, releasing a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME)—a massive burst of plasma and magnetic fields from the sun’s outer layer. This CME was traveling between 2.5 and 3.1 million mph.

Expected Impact and Timing

The CME is expected to reach Earth later on November 6 or early November 7. If it arrives as predicted, it could trigger a strong G3 geomagnetic storm, according to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center.

“Watches have been issued for these times with moderate to high confidence in timing, and moderate confidence in magnitude.” — NOAA

Visible Aurora Activity

This storm could intensify northern and southern lights, extending the auroras from the polar regions down into the US Midwest. This creates prime viewing opportunities for enthusiasts and photographers alike.

“A whole train of big #solarstorms are on their way, along with some smaller storms hitting now, and some fast solar wind! It is an #aurora photographer’s dream starting now and lasting at least through the weekend.” — Space weather physicist Tamitha Skov on X

Summary

The arrival of a swift Coronal Mass Ejection is expected to create vibrant northern lights across many US states, offering an extraordinary celestial spectacle through the weekend.

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New York Post New York Post — 2025-11-06

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