The Northern Lights are one of the most beautiful, yet elusive spectacles in the world. It can be difficult to see them, even if you visit their prime territory, the Arctic Circle. If you really want to see the lights, there are a few things you can do to maximize your chances during a trip.
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Use the KP Index to Determine Optimal Viewing Times
The KP Index is an important tool to master for anyone hoping to see the Northern Lights. It’s a scale ranging from 0 to 9 that measures geomagnetic activity, thus indicating the likelihood of the Northern Lights being visible at any given time. The higher the number of the KP index in a region, the stronger the geomagnetic activity there is. Naturally, higher geomagnetic activity means greater odds of a visible Aurora Borealis.
Generally, a value of 5 or above is considered favorable for viewing the lights, especially at lower latitudes. Before heading out to try and catch a glimpse of the lights, take a look at the KP Index in your area to see if it’s even worth the trip. Any number below 5 is unlikely to result in the view you want. There are plenty of websites and apps you can use to stay up-to-date with the KP Index in your area. Don’t neglect them!
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Leverage Aurora Tracking Apps for Real-Time Updates
The KP Index is just one way you can try to predict the likelihood of the Northern Lights appearing in a region. There are also designated Aurora tracking apps that provide a variety of real-time data you can use to your advantage. This real-time data includes cloud cover, solar activity, and aurora forecasts, all of which can help you determine the optimal time to go out and try to see the Northern Lights.
Some of these apps even offer push notifications alerting you to time when your chances of seeing the lights are highest, so you don’t have to keep an eye on things manually. A tool like this is a must-have if you’re serious about seeing any aurora. While it doesn’t guarantee anything, it takes a lot of the guesswork out of picking the best time to take your shot. With how hard it can be to catch this natural wonder, every advantage helps.
Personally, I’d recommend a simple, free app like Aurora Notifier. This app provides information on local aurora activity, the current KP index and its 3-day forecast, cloud cover predictions, and much more. It even has an awesome visual aid tool showing the whole globe, your location on it, and whether or not you are within the right geographical boundaries to see the Northern Lights. This is the app I use to streamline the whole aurora hunting process. For an iOS option, a good choice is My Aurora Forecasts & Alerts.
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Plan Your Trip Around a New Moon
Light pollution is a serious concern when trying to see the Northern Lights. Much like when you go stargazing, other, brighter sources of light can overpower dimmer sources in the night sky. This is usually something people envision coming solely from artificial sources, like city lights, but there are natural sources of light pollution as well, including the Moon.
The Moon reflects light from the Sun and can be especially bright when it’s full. Even a half or crescent Moon can produce enough light to dim the Northern Lights in the night sky. You’d be wise to plan your sightseeing trip around a new Moon, when the Moon is at its darkest. This will minimize its impact on aurora visibility if there is an aurora to see.
Auroras are rare and difficult to see even when conditions are ideal. I think I speak for everyone when I say it would be unfortunate to have an aurora occur, only to miss it because the full Moon is blocking it out with its light. Use a lunar calendar to plan your trip accordingly.
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Stay Up Late to Maximize Your Window of Opportunity
Staying up late can be difficult as you get older. I know that my ability to pull an all-nighter has diminished with age. But if you are planning a trip with the sole purpose of seeing the Northern Lights, you need to be willing to sacrifice sleep to extend your window of opportunity as much as possible, especially if the conditions for an aurora are incredibly favorable when you are on your trip.
The Northern Lights can appear at any time during the night or early hours of the morning, and they can vary in intensity at a moment’s notice. The longer you stay awake, the more chances you have to see a gorgeous display. This level of patience can be tough, but an aurora can appear in the blink of an eye, even after hours of waiting.
We all crave a good night’s sleep, but you’ll have tens of thousands of nights of sleep throughout your life. Witnessing the Northern Lights in person is something you may only get to do once, so burn the midnight oil and stay awake as long as possible if conditions are favorable!
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Invest in a Good Camera for Better Views
Considering all of the amazing photos and videos you may have seen of the Northern Lights, you might think that’s just what they look like in real life. This actually isn’t true—while the Northern Lights are still beautiful even to the naked eye, they can be seen most vividly with the aid of a high-quality camera.
That’s because cameras, especially those with manual settings and long exposure capabilities, can pick up colors and details that aren’t detected as easily by your eyes. If you’re serious about documenting your experience, consider investing in a DSLR or mirrorless camera and familiarize yourself with its settings beforehand. Even if you’re not a photography enthusiast, you’ll definitely want to record the spectacle you are witnessing.
Even if you don’t want to put down money for some sort of expensive camera, be ready to use the one on your phone, and consider setting it up for astrophotography if that setting is available for it. Anything is better than nothing.
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Manage Your Expectations for a Realistic Experience
Now, I don’t want to tell you that you shouldn’t get excited about possibly seeing the Northern Lights. But at the same time, you have to manage your expectations and be aware of the very real possibility that you might not see anything, even if you maximize your chances. Nature is fickle, and even under the best of conditions, there is no guarantee that the Northern Lights will appear.
In fact, some travelers spend their whole vacation in primetime locations under great conditions and they still don’t manage to see the lights. While that’s a little disheartening to consider, it’s better to acknowledge that before your trip rather than after it. This is also why it’s not a good idea to plan an entire vacation around the Northern Lights—it’s just setting yourself up for a lot of disappointment.
Instead, treat the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights as a bonus, not the primary goal of your vacation. Chances are, wherever you go to try and see the lights, there are lots of other amazing things to do and see as well. Be sure to embrace the wonder of the journey and appreciate everything you can. It’s alright to hope for something incredible on your vacation, but you don’t want to sour the whole experience by basing your enjoyment on a chance encounter.
In the end, there is no way to guarantee that you can see the Northern Lights. All you can do is maximize your chances and give yourself as many opportunities as possible. If you follow these tips, go to the right places, and hold onto a bit of hope in your heart, you just might be able to witness one of Earth’s greatest spectacles with your own eyes. After all, 2025 is a great year to see them.
