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Aurora Borealis could be visible in Washington this week

Aurora display in May. Paulo Falcao de Oliveira in Edmonds.

You may be able to view the Aurora Borealis in parts of Washington this week.

KIRO 7 Meteorologist Morgan Palmer says it is possible on Thursday and Friday night that we’ll get color to see up north. Clouds are going to obscure most locations.

The National Weather Service said that "probably the best aurora display" seen in Seattle was in May. Local photographers shared their captures on KIRO 7's Facebook page; click here to see the photos.

The aurora borealis -- the "Northern Lights" -- is a region of charged gases in the ionosphere, a region around 50 miles above the Earth's surface. The gases give off light from green to orange to red depending on the type of gas being excited by the charged solar particles.

Viewing tips:

Peak viewing time will be from around midnight to 3 a.m., but aurora can potentially be seen through most of the overnight hours.

If the auroral forecast predicts a visible aurora, get away from light pollution in urban areas and away from any bright lights. The darker your sky, the better.

Look north on the horizon. You may see a faint glow or much more. Remember, how vibrant a display will be is highly unpredictable.