“Especially as we reach G1 levels primarily in the states farther north, particularly in the far upper Midwest all the way up to the North Dakota and Minnesota areas,” he said. “When we get a little stronger and get to a moderate level, it will extend a little further south into the Dakotas and those kind of viewing parameters based on the normal green aurora,”

This can also be a photo opportunity for many onlookers.

“We can assume that people who see the red aurora will capture it with their cameras.”

According to the eUniversity of Alaska, here are some of the states where you’re more likely to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights:

• Illinois
• Iowa
• Massachusetts
• Ohio
• Washington
• Wisconsin

What are the Northern Lights?

According to Space.com, the northern lights, or aurora borealis, occur when energetic particles from the sun reach Earth’s upper atmosphere at speeds of up to 45 million miles per hour. The Earth’s magnetic field redirects particles toward the poles through a process that creates a breathtaking display of rays, spirals and flickers that has fascinated humans for millennia.

Why do we see different colors in the northern lights?

Dahl explains that the molecules in our atmosphere play a role in what colors appear in the sky.