The ethereal beauty of the Northern Lights, or aurora borealis, captivates stargazers and nature lovers alike. This week, an exciting opportunity arises for residents across 16 U.S. states to witness this stunning natural phenomenon.

A frontal boundary slowly pushing through the northern tier of the country will be the focus of severe thunderstorms over the next couple of days, with thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes, hurricane-force wind gusts and very large hail.

It’s best to capture the northern lights with a wide-angle lens, an aperture or F-stop of four or less and a focus set to the furthest possible setting, photography experts told National Geographic. If using a smartphone, NOAA said it’s best to enable night mode, disable flash and rely on a tripod to stabilize the image.