If you’ve been scrolling on Instagram in the past 12 hours, you’ve probably noticed the Northern Lights made an incredible display over much of the United States. We saw the stunning photos of the sky last night, from Highland Park to Uptown—the lights were all visible along Lake Michigan. You might have missed it (we did), but there might be another chance to view it tonight, October 11.
Will I be able to see it again tonight in Chicago?
Possibly! According to NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center, the Northern Lights should be visible again tonight in Chicago and the suburbs! But that’s only if cloudy conditions remain at bay.
What time will the northern lights be most visible?
NOAA said the northern lights will be visible in Chicago just after sunset Friday or just before sunrise on Saturday. Tonight, the sunset is at 6:14 p.m., and the sunrise is at 7 a.m. in Chicago.
Why are the Northern Lights visible in Chicago?
During a geomagnetic storm, the Earth’s magnetosphere is significantly disturbed due to a powerful transfer of energy from the solar wind into the space surrounding Earth. This can result in stunning displays of purple and green lights like last night—also known as aurora borealis, aka the Northern Lights.