Here’s where to catch the Northern Lights in the US and around the world

Michigan is a great place to see the Northern Lights when you’re in the US, especially near Lake Superior and the Upper Peninsula.

The state has two important factors that make it such a great place for sightseeing: its latitude and low light pollution.

“The Upper Peninsula is blessed with hundreds of miles of shoreline along the southern shore of Lake Superior, which offers some of the best viewing of the Northern Lights in the lower 48 due to the very dark night skies,” he shared in pure michigan internet.

“When you look north over Lake Superior, you can see all the way to the horizon and see an unobstructed 180-degree view of the night sky.”

If you’re lucky, you can see the Northern Lights at Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota.

If the sky is clear and dark, you can see them lighting up the sky.

Northern Lights in Europe

If you don’t mind planning a vacation this winter, take a quick trip across the pond to see the aurora borealis from these incredible sights:

1. Swedish Lapland
2. Jökulsárlón, Iceland
3. Tromsø, Norway
4. Orkney, Scotland

Sweden has become a prime location for viewing the dancing lights in the Northern Hemisphere. The Lapland region, in particular, is the most popular.

You will also need to find a location that faces north. Areas that include the Ash River Visitor Center grounds, the Meadwood Road Day Use Area, and the Rainy Lake Visitor Center upper parking area are all suggested locations by the National Park Service to take into consideration.

“Not only Abisko, Swedish Lapland, inside the aurora oval, but also the surrounding mountains keep the sky clear and there is almost no light pollution,” Swedish Lapland shared online.

In Abisko, you can find the Aurora Sky Station. It has an observation tower with experts available to answer any questions about the display, the Space Tourism Guide shared.

One of the most unique places to see the magnificent display of the Northern Lights is found in the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon in Iceland.

“Jokulsarlon’s isolated location ensures minimal light pollution, providing the perfect setting to witness the stunning colors of the Aurora Borealis,” said Arctic Adventures.

“The best time to observe the Northern Lights in Jokulsarlon is during the late evening and early night hours, when darkness increases their visibility,” the website also notes.

Time of year and time of day are two very important factors when choosing to see the Northern Lights on display in Iceland.

When you picture the landscape surrounding the Northern Lights, you probably imagine something exactly like Tromsø, Norway, which is why it’s widely considered one of the best places to see the aurora borealis.

Tromsø is the third largest city north of the Arctic Circle.

It “lies just inside the Oval of Northern Lights, the region above Earth’s geomagnetic North Pole where aurora displays are most likely to occur,” according to Space.com.

The stunning display can be seen from September to April.

You won’t miss out on enjoying the beauty of the sky when you’re in Tromsø, thanks to the many travel sites and guides that offer aurora tracking.

Orkney is another place where you can often catch the Northern Lights, with low levels of light pollution and unobstructed views, according to Orkney.com.

If you want to see the Northern Lights here, the right conditions will be needed to spot them, including dark and clear skies.

Be sure to check the weather to get an idea of ​​whether the “joy dancers”, as the Northern Lights are called in Orkney, will be visible.

Tips for viewing the Northern Lights

When it comes to seeing magical dancing lights in the sky, there are a few factors you may want to consider to maximize your viewing pleasure:

1. Location
2. time
3. Geomagnetic activity
4. The darkness

There are so many places around the world to view live displays, but you’ll want to make sure you find a location that is free of obstructions.

Aim to find a location that has minimal tree lines or hills so that the northern horizon can be fully seen.

It may take some searching to find the perfect place, so give yourself some time to look for it.

The Northern Lights are usually on full display from September to March or April, but the best time to see the lights is in the late evening or early morning.

“The best aurora is usually within an hour or two after midnight (between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time),” according to the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC).

“There may be aurora in the evening and in the morning, but it is usually not as active and therefore, not as visually appealing.”

When the geomagnetic field is active, the aurora will be brighter, stronger and farther from the magnetic poles, according to the SWPC.

The best time to see the Northern Lights is when the planetary K-index is eight or nine, and the aurora moves equatorward, the weather service site also said.

On the Space Weather Prediction Center’s website, users can view a short-term forecast of the aurora’s location and intensity, which can help determine whether they will be viewable in your area.

To see the Northern Lights, find the darkest location you can.

Go at night, away from the city lights, so you can catch the best view of the Aurora Borealis.

“The full moon will also reduce the aurora’s apparent brightness (not actual brightness),” SWPC continued.

You’ll also want to make sure it’s a clear, cloudless night.