A large chunk of northern U.S. states could get a glimpse at the northern lights on Thursday night, according to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast, which predicts a strong showing of the natural phenomenon amid a potentially severe geomagnetic storm.

If you're wondering how best to see the Northern Lights, here's what you need to know to get the best out of the show.

An aurora was spotted glowing over Lake Michigan in Michigan City, Indiana. The Space Weather Prediction Center issued a geomagnetic storm watch and said residents would witness auroras from New York to Washington.

"The aurora may become visible over much of the northern half of the country, and maybe as far south as Alabama to northern California," NOAA predicted.

A severe geomagnetic storm could bring the northern lights to a large portion of the country this week, NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center said Wednesday. Why it matters: While solar storms can trigger breathtaking celestial light shows in the night sky,