Northern lights may be visible in Arizona this weekend. Here's how to see the aurora borealis

Arizona was treated to a light show this weekend, as the northern lights lit up the sky across the United States due to heightened solar activity, according to officials.

Arizonans took to social media on Friday and Saturday to share images and videos of the pink and purple colors they saw on the northern horizon.

The spectacle was courtesy of a series of coronal mass ejections from the sun, which are forecast to reach the Earth early this weekend and produce the geomagnetic storms that trigger auroras. A G4 (severe) geomagnetic storm watch is in effect for Saturday, May 11, NOAA said.

The northern lights are the most benign result of solar activity. Strong solar storms — including G4s — can also disrupt some radio communications, harm satellites and even knock out power systems, forecasters warned.

While the northern lights will be more vibrant further north, there is a chance they could be seen in Arizona. This happened back in 2023, when Robert Ray captured the aurora lights from his backyard in Eagar.

"I was that excited to capture the northern lights," he said. "They were very faint to the naked eye, but could definitely tell they were there."

What time will the northern lights be visible?

The best aurora is usually within an hour or two of midnight (between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time). These hours expand toward evening and morning as the level of geomagnetic activity increases.

There may be aurora in the evening and morning, but it is usually not as active and therefore, not as visually appealing, NOAA said.

How long do northern lights last?

The northern lights can last a few minutes to several hours. There's no guaranteed timeframe, and they can appear at any time during the night.

Should you look north to see northern lights?

Yes. It may seem obvious, but looking toward the North Pole is the most common direction to observe the northern lights.

To observe the northern lights clearly, it's essential to be in an area with minimal light pollution. Away from city lights and in areas with a dark sky, the auroras are more visible. Even if you're in a location known for experiencing the northern lights, you may see them in some places and not others.

What's the difference between northern lights and aurora?

The terms "northern lights" and "aurora" are often used interchangeably, but there is a subtle difference.

"Northern lights" specifically refers to the auroras that occur in the Northern Hemisphere. It is commonly associated with the aurora borealis, the display of lights visible near the North Pole.

"Aurora" is a more general term that encompasses both the aurora borealis in the Northern Hemisphere and the aurora australis, or southern lights, in the Southern Hemisphere.

So, "aurora" can refer to the lights in both hemispheres, according to Space.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: How to watch the northern lights in Arizona