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Best time of year to see the northern lights (and best time of night)

The best months and hours for seeing the aurora, explained with sources: dark-sky season, the equinox effect (Russell–McPherron), the local-midnight window, moon phase, and where Solar Cycle 25 stands.

The short answer

Go in the dark half of the year, ideally near the March or September equinox. Watch from about 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. local time, on a night with little or no moonlight and clear skies. In interior Alaska, UAF puts the practical season at roughly 21 August to 21 April. [1] [2] The rest of this guide explains each part and how much it matters.

Darkness comes first

Aurora happens year-round, but you can only see it against a dark sky. Near and north of the Arctic Circle, summer nights stay bright, so even a strong display is lost in twilight. That is why UAF gives Fairbanks a viewing season from late August to late April. [1]

Farther south in the contiguous US, summer nights are dark enough, but they are short. In winter the long nights give more hours in which a burst of activity can line up with darkness and clear skies. So for most people, autumn through early spring offers the most chances, and the darkest months give the longest windows. [1] [2]

The equinox effect

Geomagnetic storms are not spread evenly through the year. NOAA and UAF both describe more geomagnetic activity near the March and September equinoxes. UAF puts the chance of seeing aurora over interior Alaska at roughly twice as high at equinox as at solstice. [1] [2]

The leading explanation is the Russell–McPherron effect, proposed in 1973. The solar wind's magnetic field mostly lies close to the Sun's equatorial plane. Earth's magnetic axis is tilted, and that tilt changes direction relative to the solar wind through the year. Around the equinoxes, the geometry makes it more likely that the solar wind's field has a southward component as seen by Earth's magnetosphere, and a southward field couples energy in efficiently. [3]

Other factors also play a part, and the size of the effect varies from year to year. Treat the equinox as a helpful tilt in the odds, not a schedule. Big storms have happened in May, and the Gannon storm of 10–11 May 2024 is a recent example. [4]

The best time of night

NOAA says the most active aurora usually comes within an hour or two of local midnight, roughly 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., and that the window widens during strong activity. [2] UAF suggests about 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. for interior Alaska in winter. [1]

Midnight here means solar midnight, when the Sun is lowest, which is often closer to 1 a.m. on daylight saving time. Displays come in bursts called substorms, often 10–30 minutes of brightening followed by a quieter spell, so stay out for a few hours rather than a few minutes. During major storms aurora can appear soon after dusk; NASA notes it can be seen from sunset to sunrise in large events. [5]

Moon phase and light pollution

A bright moon washes out faint aurora much as city lights do. NOAA notes that a full moon reduces how bright the aurora looks. [2] For a planned trip, choose dates around new moon if you can, or plan to watch after moonset. Strong aurora is still visible with a moon up, and moonlight can even light the landscape nicely in photos.

Light pollution matters more for most people. Driving 30–60 minutes away from a town, to a place with a low, open northern horizon, often makes more difference than waiting for a slightly stronger storm. See our best places and times guide for specific places.

Where Solar Cycle 25 stands

The Sun's activity rises and falls over a cycle of about 11 years. NASA and NOAA announced in October 2024 that the Sun had reached the maximum phase of Solar Cycle 25, and noted that significant storms also occur during the declining phase. [7]

In NOAA's smoothed series, Cycle 25 has reached 160.9 (2024-10), compared with Cycle 24's peak of 116.4 (2014-04). The latest monthly value is 60.3 for 2026-09 (preliminary). Smoothed values lag by about six months, so the true peak is only confirmed later. [6]

UAF notes that auroral activity tends to peak about a year after solar maximum, and that high-latitude viewing depends less on the cycle because the oval is normally overhead there. [1] For mid-latitude viewers in the contiguous US, strong storms remain possible during the declining phase, though on average they become less common as activity falls toward the next minimum. [7] No one can predict a specific storm months ahead.

Putting it together

Trip planning: aim for a place under the auroral oval, between late August and mid-April, close to an equinox, around new moon, for at least three or four nights. UAF advises that visitors staying three or more clear nights in Fairbanks during the season are very likely, though never certain, to see aurora. [1]

At home in the contiguous US: you can't schedule a storm, so the practical approach is to watch the forecast. Check Aurora tonight and the Kp index guide when NOAA issues a storm watch. Then pick the darkest clear hours near midnight.

Frequently asked questions

What month is best to see the northern lights?

There is no single best month. The best odds come in the dark season, roughly late August to mid-April at high latitudes, with a boost near the March and September equinoxes when geomagnetic activity tends to be higher.

What time of night is best for the aurora?

Usually within an hour or two of local midnight, roughly 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. local time, according to NOAA. During strong storms the window widens and aurora can appear soon after dark.

Why are the equinoxes better for aurora?

The leading explanation is the Russell–McPherron effect: around the equinoxes, the tilt of Earth's magnetic axis relative to the solar wind makes a southward magnetic field, which drives aurora, more likely.

Does the full moon stop you seeing the northern lights?

It reduces how bright faint aurora looks, but strong aurora remains visible. For a planned trip, dates near new moon give the best contrast.

Sources

  1. University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute: Aurora Forecast and FAQ https://www.gi.alaska.edu/monitors/aurora-forecast
  2. NOAA SWPC: Tips on Viewing the Aurora https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/tips-viewing-aurora
  3. Russell, C. T. & McPherron, R. L. (1973). Semiannual variation of geomagnetic activity. Journal of Geophysical Research. doi:10.1029/JA078i001p00092
  4. Grandin, M. et al. (2024). The Gannon Storm: citizen science observations during the geomagnetic superstorm of 10 May 2024. Geoscience Communication. doi:10.5194/gc-7-297-2024
  5. NASA Science: NASA's Guide to Finding and Photographing Auroras https://science.nasa.gov/feature/nasas-guide-to-finding-and-photographing-auroras/
  6. NOAA SWPC: Solar Cycle Progression https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/solar-cycle-progression
  7. NASA (2024): NASA, NOAA: Sun Reaches Maximum Phase in 11-Year Solar Cycle https://science.nasa.gov/science-research/heliophysics/nasa-noaa-sun-reaches-maximum-phase-in-11-year-solar-cycle/

Sources were checked on 2026-10-21. Text on this page is original. Quoted figures are attributed and linked to the source. General education only, not for safety or operational decisions. Disclaimer.