How to See the Northern Lights: Five Tips from a Man Who's Seen Them 50 Times

The Northern Lights have regularly made headlines in recent years, with bright flashes spotted in unexpected places like Florida, Texas, and even Mexico. Behind this surge in observations lies solar maximum—the phase of the solar cycle that peaks in 11 years and produces this fantastic display of aurora borealis, explains journalist Stephanie Vermillion in Travel & Leisure.

The peak is now behind us: it fell in 2024–2025. But that doesn't mean aurora-hunting season is over. On the contrary, another surge could be ahead. "In the past, we've seen the strongest bursts of space weather after solar maximum has passed," notes Christa Hammond, space weather manager at the Met Office.

This means that in 2026 and even later, we could still see very bright auroras. And contrary to popular belief, the northern and southern lights continue to appear even during solar minimum. "My first observation of the northern lights occurred in 2019, at the height of solar minimum. Since then, I've seen them more than 50 times—before, during, and after solar maximum," the author writes.

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But observing the aurora borealis at any time, especially outside of peak solar activity, requires preparation and planning. Below are five tips for those who want to go "hunting" for the northern lights.

Choose the time of the equinoxes

The activity of the auroras varies within a roughly 11-year cycle, but there are also shorter periods when the chances of seeing them are higher—the spring and autumn equinoxes.

The reason is that in mid- and late March, as well as in September, the Earth's tilt and the characteristics of its magnetic field enhance the influence of the solar wind—a stream of charged particles from the Sun that creates these light "ribbons" in the sky.

As a result, the likelihood of stronger or more frequent geomagnetic activity is higher during this time. Traveling north during the equinoxes does increase your chances of seeing the aurora borealis—especially outside of solar maximum.

Choose locations within the auroral oval

Even during periods of high solar activity, the northern lights can extend far south, but this is rare. We likely won't see them often in Texas in the coming years, but they are still possible in areas near the US-Canada border. "For example, in 2021, I observed a bright, three-hour aurora in Isle Royale National Park in northern Michigan—just after solar minimum," recalls Stephanie Vermillion.

However, don't count on seeing the aurora borealis in the continental United States. If you're specifically looking for the northern lights, it's best to travel far north, to the so-called auroral oval. According to the Space Weather Prediction Center, it's located roughly between 60 and 75 degrees north latitude. These include destinations such as Iceland, southern Greenland, Lapland, Yellowknife, and Fairbanks.

This is where the aurora appears most frequently, and it doesn't require extreme geomagnetic storms. "For example, during my trips to Greenland and Iceland in late 2025 and early 2026, I saw powerful aurora all night, even when forecasts didn't predict it," says the author of the article.

Plan your time with a reserve

If you're specifically going for the Northern Lights, it's worth planning at least four nights at the viewing point, especially outside of solar maximum. This requires a perfect balance of geomagnetic activity and clear skies—without these, the show won't happen.

"I usually allow at least six nights for equinox trips. Many of the best viewing spots—Greenland or Churchill, Canada—are also difficult to reach, so it's important to leave some time not only for observations but also for possible flight delays. There's nothing worse than losing part of your trip due to a flight cancellation," the author advises.

Choose accommodations that are convenient for observation

"My favorite trick for hunting the aurora borealis is to stay where you can see them right from your room, or at least from your doorstep," continues Stephanie Vermillion. "The Northern Lights can appear at any hour, and even with forecasts, timing is everything."

Ideally, you should live away from light pollution, where you can simply look at the sky without going outside. This makes it easier to spot a flare: just wake up periodically during the night and check the sky.

Some of my favorite places are Hotel Arctic in Ilulissat, Greenland, and Borealis Basecamp near Fairbanks, Alaska. They have igloos with see-through walls, so you can watch the sky from your bed. Borealis Basecamp even offers a "Northern Lights alarm."

And an important detail: the peak of northern lights activity usually occurs between 10:00 PM and 2:00 AM, but this is very approximate and depends on the region. In Alaska, for example, the peak often shifts closer to 3:00 AM or 4:00 AM. Therefore, living right at the observation site is much more convenient."

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Use the services of guides

One of the easiest ways to increase your chances of seeing the aurora is to hire a local guide. Guides know the best times and locations to see the aurora and can tailor their tours to specific regions.

This is useful at any stage of the solar cycle. With a guide, there's no need to understand forecasts like Kp, Bz, or solar wind speed.

That said, a basic understanding of these terms still helps—especially if you plan to hunt for the aurora on your own on other nights. For this, the author recommends Materials Northern Lights expert Vincent Ledvina or attending in-person workshops, such as Aurora Summit in Michigan in November.

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