The northern lights are predicted to be "quite pleasing to look at" all weekend, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's forecast

The northern lights — also called aurora borealis — could be visible in Alaska, Washington, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, Maine, northern parts of Idaho, Wyoming, Iowa, New York, Vermont and New Hampshire.

NBC Bay Area's Rob Mayeda shares viewing tips and some of the science behind what makes the aurora borealis aka northern lights visible in our skies