By Kara Seymour, Patch Editor

The Northern Lights could be visible in Connecticut on Monday night, according to experts. Auroral activity will be very high on Monday, according to the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, which makes predictions about where the northern lights will be seen.

The aurora forecast for Monday is a 6 on a scale of 9, putting it at a high+ level, according to the university's Geophysical Institute. Weather permitting, highly active auroral displays could be visible low on the horizon as far south as Annapolis, the institute says. On Tuesday, the aurora activity continues at a higher than normal level, with displays visible on the horizon as far south as Boston. Click here to view the complete forecast.

Looking to catch a glimpse? Here's what you need to know:

What are the northern lights?

It's a little complicated, but here's the basic gist.

The sun releases charged particles that collide with the Earth's upper atmosphere. Those charged particles are drawn to the Earth's north and south magnetic poles. As a result, molecules in the Earth's atmosphere become charged, then revert to normal energy levels. When that happens, they emit energy in the form of light, creating the beautiful displays in the sky.