The Aurora Borealis Is Back Tonight, and It May Hit Up to 20 States

It's a busy start to the year for skygazers. There's a supermoon coming on Jan. 3, the same day as the peak of the Quadrantids meteor shower. Tonight, meanwhile, the aurora borealis is predicted to make an appearance. If you don't mind the cold this weekend, you'll have plenty to look at outdoors on Friday and Saturday night. 

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, tonight's aurora -- aka the northern lights -- arises from a G2 magnetic storm, which tends to push the aurora borealis into the northern third of the United States. The height of the storm is expected late Friday and early Saturday, just after midnight. It'll taper off as sunrise approaches. 

This aurora is heading to Earth because of a coronal mass ejection, a cloud of plasma and other solar materials ejected from the sun, on New Year's Day. The ...