March could be the best month for the northern lights for nearly a decade — if the sun stays active

A red and green aurora over a scenic lake.

This month could be the best time to spot the northern lights for nearly a decade, as the combination of the "equinox effect" and supercharged solar activity will make auroras more likely. However, precisely where and when they will appear is still up in the air.

At 10:46 a.m. EDT (14:46 UTC) on Friday, March 20, the sun will cross the celestial equator, marking the spring equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and the fall equinox in the Southern Hemisphere.