Aurora Borealis Could Be Visible Across Much Of Oregon

Northern Lights Expected to Put on a Show Tonight

Aurora borealis could be visible across much of Oregon

Get ready to turn out the lights head outside and look up

People stayed up late Friday night to catch a glimpse of a natural phenomenon -- the aurora borealis.

The aurora was sighted all across the country and the world late Friday night and early Saturday morning. A map from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center shows that the aurora may be visible for much of the northern United States tonight.

The aurora borealis is a natural light display in the sky, caused by the interaction of charged particles from the sun with the Earth's atmosphere. The particles are drawn to the Earth's magnetic poles, which is why the aurora is most often seen in the northern and southern latitudes.

The aurora can appear in a variety of colors, including green, red, blue, and purple. The most common color is green, which is caused by oxygen atoms in the atmosphere.

If you're hoping to see the aurora tonight, find a dark spot with a clear view of the northern sky. The best time to see the aurora is typically between midnight and 2 a.m.