It looks like September is already off to a busy start thanks to the Northern Lights. New Yorkers, you just might be able to witness some celestial goodness to kickstart the month — if you’re willing to stay up late enough.
Aurora Borealis will close out the Labor Day Weekend across 18 states, and we’re lucky enough to be one of them. Are you ready, night owls? Allow us to provide the scoop on the starry deets via the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center.
Northern lights: New York is one of 18 states to see Aurora Borealis tonight
According to reports, the following states are expected to catch the gorgeous glow on September 1st, 2025:
- Alaska
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Maine
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New York
- North Dakota
- Oregon
- South Dakota
- Vermont
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Although it might be a stretch to see the Northern Lights from NYC, if you’re lucky enough to be north or west of the city, you could experience a gorgeous spectacle. The best time to catch the potential sights will be between 10pm on Monday at 2am on Tuesday.
Essentially, if you like to be tucked in bed with a book, you might need to be a little more flexible with your evening schedule tonight. Maybe set the alarm for 10 minutes later tomorrow morning? (Just a thought!)
The Aurora Borealis is starting what’s believed to be a very active month in the astronomy world: a total lunar eclipse on September 7th, followed by the September Perseids meteor shower two days later, and the alignment of the moon and Saturn on September 16th.
What astronomy happening are you most looking forward to? Let us know if you catch the Northern Lights tonight!