Northern Lights May Brighten Skies Tonight

This article was written by Patch editor Louisa Hufstader.

Skywatchers are on the alert for the possibility that aurora borealis — streams of color in the sky, also called northern lights — may be visible from the New Haven area tonight.

A major solar flare could create the display starting around 8 p.m., according to a report by Accuweather.

"Solar flares create auroras when radiation from the sun reaches Earth and interacts with charged protons in our atmosphere. The effects are greater at the magnetic poles and weaken as they move south from the Arctic or north of the Antarctic. In the northern hemisphere the results are called the aurora borealis, with the aurora australis being its southern counterpart. The result is a spectacular display of light and color for areas with clear enough views," the website says.

Accuweather's astronomy report includes a graphic of the United States showing that the occurence of the aurora could best be visible over Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

But there is a possibility that southern New England may also get a look at the display if it occurs.

Have you ever seen the northern lights? Tell us in the comments.