How to See the Northern Lights

Find the best location and time of year to see the aurora borealis.

The aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, is a natural light display in the sky, primarily visible at high latitude regions. It is caused by the interaction of charged particles from the sun with the Earth's atmosphere. The lights are most often seen in the winter months, when the nights are longer and the sky is darker. To see the northern lights, you will need to travel to a high latitude location, such as Alaska, Canada, or Scandinavia. The best time to see the aurora is during the winter months, when the nights are longer and the sky is darker. You will also need to find a location with clear skies and no light pollution.

Here are some tips for seeing the northern lights:

• Travel to a high latitude location.
• Visit during the winter months.
• Find a location with clear skies and no light pollution.
• Be patient.
• Bring a camera.

Below you'll find the expected global geomagnetic conditions for the next 27 days These are based on forecasts from the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center SWPC.