Aurora Borealis Visible Across US Amid Geomagnetic Storm

Green Lights May Be Visible As Far South As Massachusetts

Even Cell Phones May Capture Spectacle

The aurora borealis, a natural light display in the sky, is visible in Massachusetts and elsewhere across the US amid an intense G5 geomagnetic storm. Scientists say even if you don't see the spectacular nighttime glow, your cell phone just might do the trick.

Normally, the green lights of the aurora are usually visible closer to Canada and northern Russia. However, the current geomagnetic storm is so strong that the lights may be visible as far south as Massachusetts.

"This is a rare opportunity to see the aurora borealis in Massachusetts," said Dr. Brian Cohen, a space physicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. "The storm is expected to continue for several more hours, so if you're in a dark area, you may be able to see the lights."

If you don't see the aurora with your naked eye, you can still try to capture it with your cell phone camera. Cohen said that the long exposure times of cell phone cameras can sometimes pick up the faint light of the aurora.

To capture the aurora with your cell phone, Cohen recommends using a tripod or propping your phone against something steady. You should also set the camera to night mode and use a long exposure time. The longer the exposure time, the more likely you are to capture the aurora.