Seeing the Northern Lights has always been one of the things on my bucket list and tonight I might get the chance. The Northern Lights could be visible tonight across most of Minnesota and Wisconsin. According to the Space Weather Prediction Center, "Geomagnetic Storm Watches are in effect from December 9th - 11th" and they say the best time to see the sky light up will be between 9 pm and 3 am.

National Weather Service
National Weather Service
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Conditions will be perfect tonight with mainly clear skies expected across the region. For the best viewing experience, you should get as far away from city lights as possible.

Sten Odenwald, author of The 23rd Cycle: learning to live with a stormy star, explains what the Northern Lights are, "The origin of the aurora begins on the surface of the sun when solar activity ejects a cloud of gas. Scientists call this a coronal mass ejection (CME). If one of these reaches earth, taking about 2 to 3 days, it collides with the Earth’s magnetic field. This field is invisible, and if you could see its shape, it would make Earth look like a comet with a long magnetic ‘tail’ stretching a million miles behind Earth in the opposite direction of the sun."

Christmas lights are also lighting up the sky. Check out some of the best displays below. Help us Light Up Southeast Minnesota and you could win $1000.

NEW PHOTOS: Best Christmas Light Displays in Rochester & Southeast Minnesota

 

 

 

 

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