The probability of seeing the Northern Lights in 2022 was the highest it has ever been in the last 20 years (Interesting Engineering, 2023). In fact, scientists predict that over the next 18 months, we will see record-breaking solar activity that will increase the strength and extend their visibility to locations even further south. In this post you will learn how to see the Nothern Lights based on location, time of year, level of solar activity, and a little bit of luck.
The best time to view the Aurora Borealis (more commonly known as the Northern Lights) depends on many factors, like location, the time of year, the level of solar activity, and a little luck.
Here are the things you want to consider before planning your trip:
Location
The Northern Lights are most visible and will be overhead when you’re higher in latitude between 60 to 75 degrees north (or south if viewing the Aurora Australis in the southern hemisphere). Some of the most popular places to see the Northern Lights are Canada, Alaska, and Scandinavia, like Iceland or Norway. I strongly prefer Fairbanks, Alaska, since I have been there several times and seen the Aurora both times I went. Fairbanks is very accessible for me as an American and is situated at 65 degrees latitude, which is right underneath the auroral-oval latitude band. That means that when the aurora is out, it will move above you in the sky rather than just be visible on the northern horizon.
Season
The Northern Lights can typically be seen in late September to early April when the nights are longer and provide more darkness to optimize viewing. The Fall typically experiences the most solar activity throughout the year.
Solar Activity
The Northern Lights result from solar winds and coronal mass ejections from the sun. Electrons reach the Earth and get excited when they collide with nitrogen and oxygen in its thin atmosphere, causing them to get excited and release light photons into the sky as they bounce off the Earth’s magnetic poles. You can learn more about the Auroral phenomenon HERE. You want to go when there is more solar activity or even during a solar storm to increase your chances of seeing the Auroras. This can be measured through geomagnetic activity known as the KP index.
The KP index is measured on a scale of 0 to 9. You usually want the KP index to be 4 or higher, indicating a higher level of solar activity, giving you the brightest and most colorful skies for viewing. I’d like to think of solar activity as cyclical. Very similar to a woman’s. The cycles come and go, with peak activity happening about once a month. You can access next month’s solar activity forecast using information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center or download the My Aurora Forecast & Alerts app for your upcoming trip.
Dark Skies
To get the best view of the Northern Lights. You typically want to be in a place with minimal light pollution by escaping the city. Taking this a step further, you could also consider using a moon phase tracker like Moon or Almanac’s Moon Phase Calendar, as you will want less light in the sky, like when the moon is crescent and waning. Keep in mind tracking the moon also depends on where the moon is rising or setting in the sky on any given night. The Northern Lights are made by sunlight hitting the earth’s magnetic waves. It actually causes a reverberation on the North Pole and the South Pole, so even though it will be dark when you’re looking at the Aurora borealis at the North Pole, the exact same magnetic wave pattern is happening on the South Pole just like a reflection in the mirror. The only problem is on the South Pole, it’s sunny and you won’t see them. While the moon phase isn’t the most critical factor, it is something to consider, especially if you are interested in photographing the Auroras.
Clear Skies
One of the most essential factors in getting a good view of the Northern Lights is ensuring that you do not have any cloud cover obstructing your viewing. I have visited Alaska twice, and the first time I went, we had to struggle with cloud cover through most of the days I was there. I did get to see the Aurora but I didn’t get to see it in its full effect because the sky was covered with clouds most of the night. I recommend using a good weather app or checking for potential coverage in your region using the My Aurora Forecast & Alerts app. I planned my trips to Alaska within 30 days and used Accuweather because it gives you a monthly forecast. Remember that the further you are from your trip, the more likely the weather could change.
Additional Tips
Join a Facebook Notifications Group
Once I reached Fairbanks, I also joined some Facebook notification groups that were always on the lookout for auroral activity in my areas. I stayed up most of the night and was able to catch some sleep, waiting for the aurora activity to show up in my Facebook notifications. This is another helpful way to get up-to-date alerts from others on the lookout.
Patience
Getting to see the Northern Lights is multifactorial. You will want to consider lots of these things ahead of time. Most experts recommend going in the winter, like March when there’s the least precipitation, the skies are the clearest, and the KP index is also high. However, I still managed to get clouds most nights we were there in March. I returned in September with clear skies and a high KP index of 4 to 5 on different nights. It made for some spectacular viewing.
Conclusion
It is a great time to plan your once-in-a-lifetime trip to see the Northern Lights! Now you have all the info you need to do it. If you can’t get there in person and prefer to watch them from the comfort of your home, you can always view them remotely on live webcams like The Alaska Aurora Cam and Aurorainfo.eu.
If you want to plan a trip to Fairbanks to see the Northern Lights in the Fall, you can read about my Fall Northern Lights experience. If you plan to see the Northern Lights in the Winter, read about my Winter Northern Lights experience.
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