Auroras could be visible across northern US Thursday night

Aurora chasers are on high alert for some potentially very impressive displays

According to the Space Weather Prediction Center, auroras, also known as the northern lights, could be possible as far south as Illinois and Oregon.

The Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a "G3" or "strong" geomagnetic storm watch for the Earth. (The scale goes from G1 (minor) to G5 (extreme).

"Go out at night," NOAA said. "And get away from city lights. The moon will also diminish the apparent brightness of the aurora."

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The best aurora is usually within an hour or two of midnight (between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. local time)

These hours expand towards evening and morning as the level of geomagnetic activity increases

The solar forces that produce the gorgeous sky phenomena are predicted to peak next year, and at a more intense level than previously thought

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