Try to see the Northern Lights over the Chicago area Wednesday night

Many Chicagoans are hoping for clear skies Wednesday night, as the Northern Lights are set to potentially to shine over the United States for the second night in a row.

Residents got their first taste Tuesday night when the aurora borealis lit up the night sky in pink, yellow and green. It was the most visible example of the Northern Lights in the Chicago area since at least October 2024, when another geomagnetic storm sent heads looking up to the sky. Forecasters say those who missed it might get another shot.

Countless beautiful images appeared all over social media throughout Tuesday evening, with residents’ high-quality camera lenses able to capture the lights in even more detail than the naked eye. Many of the brightest examples of the lights came from the suburbs. Sun-Times staffers and other residents in the city also reported being able to see the lights.

Here are some examples from Tuesday ahead of, hopefully, another chance to see them tonight.

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