How To See The Northern Lights In Southeast Wyoming Tonight

A Cheyenne-based meteorologist says "it's possible" the Aurora Borealis, also known as the ''Northern Lights" visible from southeast Wyoming tonight [Jan. 19].

We put that question to Don Day Jr., founder and President of Dayweather Inc. in Cheyenne. Here was his response"

it is possible, some clouds will be around but not overcast, the aurora just needs to show up

The National Weather Service earlier today issued a video on the aurora borealis for tonight across the country

So what exactly causes the aurora borealis? NASA explains it this way:

"Also known as the northern lights (aurora borealis) or southern lights (aurora australis), auroras are colorful, dynamic, and often visually delicate displays of an intricate dance of particles and magnetism between the Sun and Earth called space weather.

When energetic particles from space collide with atoms and molecules in the atmosphere, they can cause the colorful glow that we call auroras."

While the lightshow is known as the 'Northern Lights" in the northern hemisphere, they are perhaps not surprisingly known as the ''Southern Lights" in the southern hemisphere.

The nighttime light show is periodically visible in Wyoming. Notable Aurora Borealis displays were seen a couple of months ago