Will Texans be able to see the northern lights this weekend?

This year has certainly been the year of the aurora borealis frenzy. Many folks likely remember earlier this year when the aurora was visible as far south as Miami, Florida—and yes, even right here in the Lone Star State! In mid-May, a strong geomagnetic storm hit Earth, leading to a very active aurora display.

If you've been following my s , you may recall that I've yet to have much luck seeing the aurora. Even when I was in Alaska—where you'd think the northern lights would be a sure thing—I had no luck. Well, this weekend, we Texans might just have another chance to see the dancing lights on the horizon, starting tonight.

There are two main aurora forecasts I use to predict where the lights could be seen. The first comes from NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center. The geomagnetic storm impacting our planet is classified as an active aurora, in comparison to a very active aurora, which is what we saw earlier this year.

Geomagnetic storms are measured using two variables. The first is the Planetary K Index (Kp). According to NOAA, the K-index measures how disturbed Earth's magnetic field is on a scale from 0 to 9, with 1 meaning calm and 5 or higher indicating a geomagnetic storm. It's based on the largest changes in the magnetic field recorded over a three-hour period. During this year's aurora frenzy, Kp values reached 8 and 9, indicating a very active period. This weekend, they are expected to range between 6 and 7.

The second variable is the G-scale, which rates geomagnetic storms from G1 to G5, with G1 being minor and G5 being extreme. Both scales are used to inform the public about what to expect from a particular storm. In mid-May, the forecasted G-scale reached G4, whereas this weekend's storms are expected to be at G2 and G3 strength.

According to this forecast, the lights may not be visible in Texas and are more likely to be visible starting in northern Nebraska. Texans flying north may have a better chance of seeing them, but I know that's only a small percentage of us.

According to the University of Alaska , the aurora could be visible tonight for the Texas Panhandle between 4-7 p.m., just before sunset. Sorry, sorry, I know, I got excited too. By the time the lights will actually be visible, the aurora strength is expected to weaken, giving folks north of Texas a better shot to view them. Check out the aurora forecast for tonight below.

So... Texans may not be as lucky this time around, but who knows. If weather here on Earth can be unpredictable, you can imagine how tricky space weather is. If you want to try your luck tonight, here are some tips:

: Head north. Find a spot with a clear view north (or south in the southern hemisphere). From the right spot, you can see auroras even if they're far away, especially with low geomagnetic activity.

It must be dark: Watch the aurora at night, away from city lights and the full moon. Fortunately, we just had a new moon, which means darker skies.

: The best time to see auroras is between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., with the peak around midnight. With more geomagnetic activity, they can also appear earlier or later.

Best Seasons: The spring and fall equinoxes are the best times to see auroras because geomagnetic storms are more likely. We are just past the fall equinox, so that's a good sign!