The northern lights are best seen between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time while at a high, north-facing vantage point away from light pollution, according to NOAA. Aurora borealis is best seen from late September into early April because of the longer nights, though the phenomenon can still be seen throughout the year depending on solar activity.

Before those celestial events get underway, however, it seems that another sighting of the aurora borealis may be visible in up to 18 US states on Friday night. Those states can be broken up into three categories.