Another geomagnetic storm may bring Aurora Borealis to parts of Texas tonight. See where

Celestial enthusiasts, look up: another chance to view the aurora borealis is upon us.

A rare, severe geomagnetic storm is expected to trigger auroras, potentially allowing residents in the northernmost parts of Texas to witness this spectacle with the naked eye. The aurora may be visible from Thursday night into early Sunday morning.

This follows a powerful geomagnetic storm in May — the first to reach a G4 magnitude since 2005 — which made the aurora visible across all of the contiguous United States, extending as far south as Central Texas.

Why has solar activity increased in 2024?

As the current solar cycle inches toward its peak, space forecasters have projected that residents across the United States can expect an increase in stunning celestial displays through next summer.

Electromagnetic activity on the sun is intensifying as it nears the height of its 11-year solar cycle, which NASA estimates will reach its peak in 2025. This period, known as the solar maximum, brings a rise in sunspots — highly magnetized areas on the sun's surface. When these areas release built-up energy, they produce solar flares, which NASA describes as the most powerful explosive events in our solar system, USA TODAY reported.

Solar flares release radiation in the form of ultraviolet light and X-rays that travel to Earth at light speed. Some of these flares are also accompanied by coronal mass ejections, massive clouds of plasma and charged particles ejected from the sun’s outer atmosphere, known as the corona.

When coronal mass ejections collide with Earth’s magnetosphere—our planet's protective magnetic field—they can generate geomagnetic storms. These storms can intensify displays of the aurora borealis, creating breathtaking shows of light visible in regions far from the poles.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center announced on Wednesday that a new G4-magnitude solar storm is imminent following a recent solar flare and a rapid coronal mass ejection headed toward Earth. Traveling at 2.5 million miles per hour, this is the fastest CME with a fully Earth-directed component measured so far in Solar Cycle 25.

Where in Texas can you view the Northern Lights?

This weekend, residents in the northernmost parts of Texas, including Amarillo and cities to the north, might be able to view the Northern Lights with the naked eye. Texans on the South Plains, including Lubbock and surrounding regions, as well as cities north of Dallas-Fort Worth, might capture the aurora borealis with a good camera in low-light conditions.

Tips for viewing the Northern Lights

"Go out at night," NOAA said. "And get away from city lights."

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 can expand towards evening and morning as the level of geomagnetic activity increases.

Contributing: Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Another geomagnetic storm may bring Aurora Borealis to parts of Texas tonight. See where