Montana Could Get One of Its Best Northern Lights Displays Tonight

If you've been hoping for another chance to see the northern lights in Montana, tonight could be one of the better opportunities we've had in a while. 

Geomagnetic Storm Watch: What You Need to Know

A strong coronal mass ejection (CME) recently erupted from the sun, and forecasters are expecting the resulting geomagnetic storm to reach Earth on June 4. The storm is strong enough that the aurora could be visible much farther south than usual, giving many northern states—including Montana—a solid chance of seeing the northern lights. Forecasters have issued a G3 (Strong) geomagnetic storm watch for tonight.  

Weather Conditions: The Key to Visibility

The biggest question, as always in Montana, is whether the weather will cooperate. 

READ MORE: Two Beautiful Montana Locations That Have Dark Skies

If the skies clear out tonight, experts say this could be one of those aurora events that may be visible with the naked eye rather than only through a smartphone camera. The best viewing conditions will be away from city lights with a clear view of the northern horizon.  

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Upcoming Celestial Events to Look Forward To

Even if clouds get in the way tonight, June is packed with some impressive celestial events. 

On June 8 and 9, the planets Venus and Jupiter will appear extremely close together in the western sky shortly after sunset, according to NASA. The two brightest planets visible from Earth will be separated by only about 1.5 degrees, creating a striking sight visible without any special equipment.  

READ MORE: This Tiny Montana Town Is One of the Best in America to See the Northern Lights

June 15 brings a 'super' new moon, meaning darker nighttime skies and excellent conditions for viewing the Milky Way, according to Lunaf.com. For Montanans willing to head away from city lights, it could be one of the best nights of the month for stargazing and astrophotography.  

 A Three-Planet Lineup: Mercury Joins the Show

Between June 11 and 15, Mercury will join Venus and Jupiter in the evening sky, creating a rare three-planet lineup low on the western horizon after sunset.  

Montana's wide-open landscapes and dark skies make it one of the best places in the country for skywatching. Whether it's tonight's potential aurora display, next week's Venus-Jupiter conjunction, or the dark skies surrounding the June 15 new moon, there will be plenty of reasons to spend some time looking up this month. 

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Now all we need is a little cooperation from Montana's clouds.