Solar Storms Should Make , Northern Lights , Visible Across the United States.<br />This week, the northern lights may be visible across <br />17 states as a powerful solar storm makes dramatic <br />and colorful light displays visible at lower latitudes.<br />NBC reports that forecasters at the University of Alaska <br />Fairbanks say the lights will be visible in Alaska, Idaho, <br />Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, .<br />Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, <br />Oregon, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, <br />Wisconsin and Wyoming.<br />According to the university, "highly active auroral displays" <br />should be visible in cities that include Helena, Montana, <br />Montpelier, Vermont and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.<br />The university's Geophysical Institute <br />say that the auroras will be best<br /> viewed from clear, dark locations.<br />The National Oceanic and Atmospheric <br />Administration says that the Northern Lights can be <br />seen from up to 600 miles away in clear conditions.<br />The agency suggests that skywatchers should choose <br />a location away from city lights, and go “within an hour <br />or two of midnight (between 10 PM and 2 AM local time).”.<br />NBC reports that the Northern Lights, also referred to <br />as the aurora borealis, are the result of solar storms <br />that eject clouds of charged particles into space.<br />Those particles interact with Earth's magnetic field, <br />creating colorful neon lights as they collide with <br />atoms and molecules in the upper atmosphere.<br />Depending on conditions in the atmosphere, <br />lights can appear as shimmering displays <br />of green, pink, blue and purple lights
