Will Arizona see northern lights in 2025? Here's what experts say and how to watch

Arizonans could soon have another chance to witness the celestial marvel known as the northern lights.

While many people associate the northern lights in areas much farther north such as Alaska or the North Pole, states like Arizona can still be treated to the auroras under the right conditions.

The Grand Canyon State wasn't able to meet those conditions last month when auroras could be seen in more northern states of the mainland United States such as Washington, Montana and Wisconsin among others.

But if things come together as they did in May , Arizonans could once again be dazzled with a light show unlike any other.

Northern lights activity to increase in 2025

Electromagnetic activity is increasing as the sun continues to reach the height of its 11-year solar cycle,  which NASA said is expected to be in 2025 .

As the sun reaches the peak of  Solar Cycle 25 , sunspots located in regions of intense magnetic activity should increase, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. When that magnetic activity is released, it creates intense bursts of radiation resulting in solar flares – considered by NASA to be our solar system's  largest explosive events .

Solar flares emit radiation, mostly in the form of ultraviolet light and X-rays, that can hurtle toward Earth at the speed of light. Some of these flares can be accompanied by coronal mass ejections, or clouds of plasma and charged particles, that emerge from the sun's outermost atmosphere, the corona.

These ejections can collide with Earth's magnetosphere, the barrier protecting humanity from the harshest impacts of space weather, to produce  geomagnetic storms .

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What causes the northern lights?

The northern lights are caused by the interaction between charged particles from the sun and the Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere. Here's a breakdown of the process according to  Space.com :

• Solar wind: The sun continuously emits a stream of charged particles, primarily electrons and protons, known as the solar wind.

• Magnetic field interaction: When these charged particles are carried toward Earth by the solar wind, they interact with the Earth's magnetic field. The Earth's magnetic field is strongest near the polar regions.

• Magnetosphere and ionosphere interaction: As the charged particles approach the Earth, they are captured by the planet's magnetic field and directed toward the polar regions. When these charged particles collide with the gases in the Earth's atmosphere, they transfer energy to the gases.

• Emission of light: The transfer of energy to the atmospheric gases causes them to emit light. Different gases emit different colors, resulting in the vibrant colors of the auroras. Oxygen at higher altitudes can produce red and green colors, while nitrogen can contribute to purples, pinks, and blues.

Where can you see the northern lights in the US?

Alaska has the greatest frequency of northern lights visibility in the United States. In rare cases of strong geomagnetic storms, the northern lights can be visible in Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Maine, according to  Space Tourism Guide .

The northern lights have even been seen in Arkansas and Arizona. This increased visibility is linked to the upcoming "solar maximum"  predicted for 2025 , characterized by heightened solar activity, including solar flares and coronal mass ejections.

Where is best spot in Arizona to see northern lights?

While it's difficult to predict exactly when and where the northern lights will appear , they're likely to be more vibrant the farther north one goes — particularly in areas with low light pollution.

Decent areas include Fountain Hills, Flagstaff, Cottonwood, Camp Verde, Big Park/Village of Oak Creek and Sedona. Night owls will have an advantage over others, as the northern lights are typically seen between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time, though they can also be visible in the evening and early morning hours .

And if you're not quite sure where to look for an aurora in the night sky, it always helps to face north.

USA TODAY reporter Eric Lagatta and Arizona Republic reporter Tiffany Acosta contributed to this article.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Northern lights could shine in Arizona; experts weigh in