After an intense solar flare, residents in northern U.S. states may get the rare chance to view the northern lights under clear skies, and capture the event on camera.

Dark sky destinations perfect for seeing the Northern Lights includes an an International Dark Sky Place (U.S./worldwide), a Dark-Sky Preserve (Canada) or a Starlight Reserve (Spain). Or just look at a light pollution map because anywhere with a dark northern horizon will potentially give you a good view.

The sun is sending a slew of activity to Earth this week — and that could mean strong displays of the aurora, also known as the northern and southern lights. For prime northern lights viewing in the United States,