The Annapolis Northern Lights will light up the sky of 17 states this week in a rare phenomenon. It’s almost unheard of that these lights are visible on the east coast, so it’s worth testing your luck and seeing if you can catch a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis on Thursday night. Northern Lights most frequently appear visible from Scandinavia, Alaska, and Canada-nowhere near D.C.
The lights are expected to be visible in the night sky on the evening of Thursday, July 13. Sky gazers across the country might be able to view the lights from their backyard, including in the sweet state of Maryland-Annapolis to be specific. Reports say that the lights definitely will not be visible in Washington D.C., mainly due to excess pollution levels. So it’s up to you to determine if the 42-minute drive out to Annapolis is worth this once-in-a-lifetime viewing experience.
In addition to Maryland, the Northern Lights are expected to be visible in the following states according to the most up-to-date Northern Lights aurora forecast:
- Alaska
- Oregon
- Washington
- Idaho
- Montana
- Wyoming
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Minnesota
- Wisconsin
- Michigan
- New York
- Maine
- New Hampshire
- Vermont
- Indiana
How to increase your chances of viewing the Northern Lights
The greatest caveats of successfully admiring the fluorescent green lights are cloud cover and pollution. The sky must be perfectly dark and clear for the best viewing experience.
Where and when to watch
The Space Weather Prediction Center suspects the lights will show in Maryland between 10 PM and 2 AM beginning on the night of Thursday July 13. Find a spot in Annapolis with clear skies. the higher up north in town you go, the better chance you’ll have of viewing the lights.