{"id":128253,"date":"2025-09-02T22:39:14","date_gmt":"2025-09-02T22:39:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/128253\/"},"modified":"2025-09-02T22:39:14","modified_gmt":"2025-09-02T22:39:14","slug":"how-to-see-the-northern-lights-without-leaving-the-u-s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/128253\/","title":{"rendered":"How to See the Northern Lights Without Leaving the U.S."},"content":{"rendered":"

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We polled space-weather experts, astrophotographers, and aurora guides for their top tips for enjoying \u2018solar maximum\u2019\u2014the 11-year peak of Northern Lights activity. Here\u2019s what they said.<\/p>\n

\"Sermilik<\/p>\n

Sermilik Hostel in South Greenland beneath auroras (Photo: Stephanie Vermillion)<\/p>\n

Updated September 2, 2025 12:34PM<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve been waiting to book a Northern Lights trip, it\u2019s time to make it happen. This autumn is expected to kick off one of the strongest aurora seasons in decades\u2014think last year\u2019s low-latitude displays<\/a>, and potentially even better.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s because the sun has reached its roughly 11-year peak of activity, known as solar maximum. The bright star causes auroras by sending charged particles whizzing through space. When those electrons and ions crash into our atmosphere, they spark kaleidoscopic sky swirls that aurora hunters, like me, travel the world to see.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Solar maximum isn\u2019t the only time to catch the lights, but it does bring above-average aurora intensity and frequency. According to NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration<\/a>, the sun entered this lively period in October 2024; the awe is expected to continue at least into this fall, and likely winter.<\/p>\n

The TL;DR? There\u2019s no time like the present to chase those colorful curtains. And I\u2019ve gathered tips and tricks from nearly a dozen of my aurora-chasing peers, including expert guides, space-weather scientists, and astrophotographers, to help you make the most of this once-in-a-decade Northern Lights season.<\/p>\n

\"Northern(Photo: Stephanie Vermillion)
\n1. Know What You\u2019re Looking for (Hint: It May Be Less Vivid Than Expected)<\/p>\n

Northern Lights photos can be deceiving. Cameras are significantly more sensitive to light and hues than our eyes. The photos you see on Instagram, for example, are more vivid and saturated than what you\u2019ll see in real life.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the northern tier of the U.S., the aurora often appears as a translucent white or silver veil to the eye, until the sensitive lens of a camera reveals their full color,\u201d says Melissa Kaelin<\/a>, author Beyond the 45th Parallel: The Beginner\u2019s Guide to Chasing Aurora in the Mid-latitudes<\/a> and co-founder of the annual Aurora Summit<\/a>. \u201cWatching for the structure, movement, and formations of aurora is just as important as watching for the color, if not more so.\u201d<\/p>\n

That said, you can still see color with your eye, especially if you\u2019re witnessing a show in a dark location that\u2019s far from light pollution. I\u2019ve seen reds and greens that twist like corkscrews overhead, but that\u2019s an exception, not the norm.<\/p>\n

2. Monitor the Sky with Your Smartphone or Camera<\/p>\n

Sure, it\u2019s frustrating that our cameras get a better view of the aurora than we do, but savvy Lights chasers use that to their advantage. \u201cCheck to see if the lights are out using your phone or, better yet, a DSLR\/mirrorless camera,\u201d says astrophotographer, teacher, and author Mike Shaw<\/a>. \u201cTake test shots facing north, and if you see green along the horizon, it\u2019s game on.\u201d<\/p>\n

A subtle green glow can turn electric in minutes. The lights rapidly shift colors and shapes, and substorms\u2014a stint when the aurora intensifies and expands southward, according to NOAA<\/a>\u2014can make the lights exceptionally eye-popping. Catching these intense displays is about being in the right place at the right time.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you really want to see the aurora, travel to the darkest skies near you and spend at least three to four hours taking in the awe of the night,\u201d says Kaelin. \u201cThis will increase your chances of being present for a powerful substorm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"NorthernNorthern Lights over Lake Superior on Isle Royale National Park (Photo: Stephanie Vermillion)
\n3. Learn How to Read Space-Weather Forecasts<\/p>\n

It\u2019s helpful to download an aurora-prediction app before embarking on a lights chase, but it\u2019s even better if you know how to read and interpret the data yourself\u2014and I\u2019m not just talking about Kp index. Kp, which measures geomagnetic activity on a scale from one to nine, is a tiny piece of the ribbon-hunting puzzle. More important data points include solar wind speed and Bz (the orientation of the magnetic field). I use apps like Space Weather Live<\/a> to track this.<\/p>\n

And I also turn to the experts. Twice per day, the NOAA\u2019s Space Weather Prediction Center provides three-day forecasts, with insights to help amateur Lights chasers better understand what to expect. \u201cFor a bit more detail about confidence levels or uncertainty, and a description of what is actually the causal phenomena in the forecast, check out our Forecast Discussion<\/a>, which is also issued twice daily,\u201d says Shawn Dahl of the NOAA\u2019s Space Weather Prediction Center.<\/p>\n

Monitoring real-time updates from other Lights chasers can be especially valuable. Dahl recommends the citizen-science platform Aurorasaurus<\/a>, which plots sighting reports from around the world. I also use aurora webcams<\/a> and Facebook groups like Great Lakes Aurora Hunters<\/a> to keep tabs on what other lower-48 swirl-seekers are seeing.<\/p>\n

4. But Don\u2019t Obsess Over Lights Predictions<\/p>\n

While apps and data are helpful aurora forecasting tools, the best way to chase the aurora is to actually go outside and look up. \u201cAurora predictions are useful, but local weather is just as important,\u201d says Adriel Butler, president and founder of Fairbanks-based Borealis Basecamp<\/a>, an astrotourism getaway with sky-view igloos, stargazing cubes, and northern lights wake-up calls. \u201cA clear night with a low aurora prediction can beat a cloudy night with a high aurora forecast.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even with all the best tracking technology in the world, space weather remains largely unpredictable. \u201cA low aurora forecast doesn\u2019t mean a no-show,\u201d Butler says. \u201cBe patient, check often, and don\u2019t give up. A break in the clouds at 3 A.M. could be the best show ever.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why I always choose dark-sky accommodations<\/a> during my aurora hunts. It\u2019s easier to pop in and out of the warmth, or peek out of my tent flap, than driving back and forth to a sky-watching lookout.<\/p>\n

5. Get Strategic with Your Location<\/p>\n

Traveling to northerly latitudes like Iceland or Alaska will increase your sighting odds. These destinations lie within a donut-shaped zone of Lights activity known as the auroral oval, which hovers around 65 to 70 degrees latitude. The shape swells and moves further south during periods of strong geomagnetic activity, like last year\u2019s May and October shows, where the Lights danced across nearly every state.<\/p>\n

Low-latitude auroras are a rarity, but some contiguous U.S. locales do see lights quite regularly during solar maximum, including the northern Great Lakes region (I swear by Michigan\u2019s Upper Peninsula) and many northern-border states.<\/p>\n

6. Know When to Lights Chase<\/p>\n

Certain times of the month are better for chasing than others. \u201cSkip full moon nights,\u201d says Jason Makela, co-founder of Fresh Coast Cabins<\/a>, a remote getaway on Michigan\u2019s far-north Keweenaw Peninsula. \u201cThe bright light can wash out the show. Also, aim for clear, dark skies away from city lights.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even strategizing the hour of your aurora hunt can improve your luck. \u201cThe best aurora displays often occur between midnight and 3 A.M.,\u201d says Shaw. \u201cLeaving before then robs you of the opportunity to experience these beautiful events.\u201d<\/p>\n

Finally, consider traveling around the equinoxes. The fall and spring equinoxes are known to see \u201can improved chance of geomagnetic disturbances and thus a possible improved chance of aurora development,\u201d says Dahl. Of course, nothing is guaranteed with auroras. But anecdotally, I\u2019ve had a ton of luck with fall-equinox-timed lights pursuits. And according to the Michigan tourism board Pure Michigan<\/a>, the likelihood of aurora displays around the equinoxes nearly doubles.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe author beneath northern lights in northern Iceland (Photo: Stephanie Vermillion)
\n7. Embrace the Challenge, and Pursue Non-Aurora Activities, Too<\/p>\n

If your sky-watching itinerary focuses solely on the aurora, you\u2019re setting yourself up for disappointment. \u201cHead out with the goal of spotting constellations, a satellite, or maybe even a shooting star,\u201d says Makela. \u201cThat way, if the auroras do show up, they\u2019ll be the icing on an already sweet evening\u2014and if they don\u2019t, you\u2019ll still head home with a successful night under your belt.\u201d<\/p>\n

And remember that the chase is all part of the fun. \u201cDon\u2019t get discouraged,\u201d says Saskatchewan-based astrophotographer Jeanine Holowatuik<\/a>. \u201cThe best part about the aurora is also the worst: It\u2019s unpredictable and cannot be planned for. Even the most seasoned chasers have many failed attempts.\u201d<\/p>\n

8. Build in Buffer Days for Weather and Aurora Activity<\/p>\n

Weather plays a major role in chasing the Northern Lights. \u201cYou could have the strongest aurora forecast, but that will mean nothing if you have clouds that night,\u201d says Indigenous aurora hunter<\/a> and guide Joe Buffalo Child<\/a>, founder of Yellowknife-based North Star Adventures<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Building in extra days will increase the chance of strong auroras and minimal cloud cover on the same night. \u201cStay three or more nights [during your aurora trip],\u201d says Butler. \u201cGiving yourself multiple nights greatly increases your chances of catching a show.\u201d<\/p>\n

In fact, the Travel Alaska tourism board<\/a> says Fairbanks Lights seekers who actively seek the swirls for at least three nights have a 90 percent success rate. This goes for many northerly locales like Yellowknife, although in places notorious for moody weather like Iceland and Greenland, I like to give myself at least one week.<\/p>\n

9. Hire a Local Guide<\/p>\n

From tracking forecasts to scouting locations, a lot goes into chasing the Northern Lights. That\u2019s why I always tell first-timers to book a guide. \u201cLocal guides can help you maximize your limited aurora-chasing time by knowing where the best locations might be, or when to stay up for a late-night show,\u201d says Eleanor Edye<\/a>, expedition leader for adventure outfitter Natural Habitat Adventures<\/a>, which hosts sky-watching trips to remote and northerly Churchill, Canada. \u201cGuides can also help you if you\u2019re traveling to an area much colder than your normal, and keep you safe from the elements while you\u2019re focusing on the beauty of the lights.\u201d<\/p>\n

And as I learned firsthand last year<\/a>, it\u2019s especially powerful to book a chase with an Indigenous aurora tracker like Buffalo Child. \u201cThis is our land,\u201d he told me of his home in popular aurora getaway, the Northwest Territories. \u201cThrough tourism, I show people that we can be ourselves and make a living.\u201d<\/p>\n

10. Learn to Use Your Camera Beforehand\u2014and Know When to Put It Down<\/p>\n

These days, it\u2019s almost instinctual to respond to a beautiful scene by grabbing our smartphone camera. But taking photos of the aurora on an iPhone<\/a>, or any kind of smartphone or camera, does require a bit of practice.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile some viewers like to watch with their eyes only, using a smartphone or DSLR to capture the moment is often a great way to take a trip memory home with you,\u201d says Edye. \u201cNewer smartphones can be very successful with aurora photography, while older models may not be able to capture the Lights or may leave you underwhelmed. DSLRs are a great way to capture the lights, but be aware of the cold and dark\u2014knowing how to adjust your camera settings and change out batteries in the dark will save you a lot of frustration in the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

And while it can be tempting to spend your whole aurora hunt photographing, it\u2019s also important to step back and look up. \u201cDon\u2019t forget to watch the show itself,\u201d says Edye. \u201cPut the camera down and enjoy the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n