Hunting the aurora: season, Kp index and best hours for viewing

The Northern Lights are hard to catch, but it is possible. They are also called the northern or polar lights, and sometimes the Aurora Borealis.

To see them, simply buying a tour to the north is not enough: you need a dark night, an active Sun, and a clear sky all at the same time. We have put together tips that improve your chances and debunked four popular myths.

In short: the season lasts from autumn to early spring, and the most convenient way to track activity is the planetary Kp index, where a G1 geomagnetic storm is already recorded at Kp 5 (according to the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center).

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Why the northern lights occur

💡 In short:

• Hunting season: the dark months from autumn to early spring.
• Activity benchmark: planetary Kp index of 5 or higher.
• Geomagnetic activity data: 09/2026, verified on NOAA SWPC

The lights are born in the upper atmosphere, where Earth's magnetosphere collides with charged particles from the solar wind. This excites atoms and molecules of gases, and they begin to glow. Oxygen produces the green color, and at high altitude oxygen also produces red. Nitrogen adds blue-violet and pink shades.

The strength of the phenomenon is not constant, because after a solar flare a cloud of plasma, a coronal mass ejection, heads toward Earth. From the ejection to a magnetic storm usually takes from 15 hours to 3 to 5 days (according to ESA Space Weather). That is why forecasts are made in advance: you see activity on the Sun and have time to reach the right latitudes.

The stronger the ejection, the brighter the lights and the farther south they are visible. On planets with a different atmosphere, the color is also different: on Jupiter the aurora is blue-violet.

Myth 1. The lights are visible only in winter

It is not about the season, but about the length of the dark part of the day. In summer, the polar day reigns in the north, the sky does not get dark, and seeing the Aurora is almost impossible, so you need absolute darkness.

The hunting window works out like this: from autumn to early spring. Midwinter gives the longest nights. But the peak of geomagnetic activity more often falls on the weeks around the equinoxes, in September and March. So early autumn and early spring also offer good chances.

© Sindre Skrede · CC BYPhoto: Sindre Skrede, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

Myth 2. You need frost and subzero temperatures

There is no direct connection between the lights and temperature, because in early September people see the colorful sky on a warm evening too. Look for the logic elsewhere: in freezing weather the sky is more often clear, while clouds hide the Aurora.

So warm months do not cancel the hunt, and you should watch the cloud forecast rather than the thermometer.

Myth 3. Any clear day will do

If you live in northern Norway, you can catch the lights by chance, but for a short trip that is not enough. The phenomenon follows the solar activity cycle, and on quiet days the sky remains simply starry.

When solar activity is low, even a perfectly clear night will not show a bright display. That is why you check departure dates against the forecast in advance: if the Kp index drops, it is better to wait a couple of days or shift your route.

Myth 4. The northern lights are visible only in the North

The truth is that in the North the lights are visible more often, and that is all. In Scandinavia, Canada, or Alaska, catching the Aurora is more realistic than waiting for it in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland.

But there is a chance farther south too, because during the solar maximum the lights are also recorded in Central Europe. They are seen in Germany as well, so waiting for the Aurora at home is not pointless.

How to increase your chances of seeing the Aurora

Your chances depend on three things: solar activity, cloud cover, and where you are standing. Work through them in that order.

Track solar activity. The most convenient way is the planetary Kp index (see the Kp forecast from NOAA). Days with Kp 5 to 6 or higher give a real chance even in Central Europe, so when the index rises, the hunting window is open.

Check the weather and cloud cover. A cyclone with rain or snow reduces your chances almost to zero, because a clear sky matters more than frost.

Catch the moment after a flare. The main condition for the lights is a particle ejection on the Sun. After it, you have time to reach the right latitudes. Data from satellites at the L1 point run ahead of the lights themselves by 15 to 60 minutes, so the forecast has time to warn you.

Choose a place without light pollution. Get far away from cities and artificial lighting, ideally into nature with an open northern horizon. The darker your surroundings, the more structure you see in the sky. Check a light pollution map in advance.

Set aside several nights for the hunt. The lights are capricious: a perfect forecast may produce nothing, while a random night may surprise you.

Do not trust forecasts blindly. You can study a dozen websites, see clear skies everywhere, and then run into clouds on the spot. Keep a plan B: near a big city there are more excursions, but the sky is harder to see.

Keep useful resources at hand. For forecasts and maps, Space Weather Live, Aurora Notifier, and aurora-alerts work well: they show the current Kp, weather data, and the forecast for the coming hours.

Put together the right gear. Bring warm clothes, thermal underwear, good shoes, and hot tea in a thermos, because the hunt lasts for hours and you stand almost motionless. The best viewing time is roughly 22:00 to 02:00 local time, so dress with extra margin.

Bring camera gear. A quality shot requires a long exposure and a completely still camera, so a tripod will help. A good phone camera will also get a shot, but do not expect a masterpiece.

Ask the locals. Residents of regions where the lights are a frequent guest know the best viewpoints and routes. It is more worthwhile to hire a guide for aurora hunting, because an experienced person will run the excursion and tell you when to head out.

Where to see the northern lights

The polar lights occur near both magnetic poles, but in the Northern Hemisphere they are visible more often. In the Southern Hemisphere the phenomenon is called the southern lights, and it is harder to see.

The classic list of destinations: Scandinavia with Norwegian Tromsø and Lapland, Iceland, Canada, Alaska, Greenland, and Svalbard. The farther north you are, the higher your chances.

During periods of high solar activity, the lights are also recorded in Central Europe, from Germany to Austria and Switzerland. They are also seen in Japan, on the northern island of Hokkaido, and in Scotland. That requires a strong storm and a dark sky.

The easiest approach is to combine the hunt with a ready-made tour, where a guide watches over the group and knows the viewing spots and departure times. That way you do not waste nights on reconnaissance.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to go for the northern lights?

You need darkness, so the season begins in autumn and ends in early spring. In summer the polar day reigns in the north, and the lights are not visible. The optimal months are October through March: the nights are long and clear weather is more common.

Does frost interfere with the lights?

No. Temperature is not directly connected to the appearance of the lights. They are also recorded on a warm autumn evening. Frost helps only indirectly: in cold weather the sky is more often clear, while clouds hide the Aurora.

Is one night enough?

Risky. The lights are capricious, and a perfect forecast may not work out. One night gives you few attempts. Take at least three or four nights in a row: that way you can survive a cloudy evening and wait for a window. If you are short on time, choose a place with clear winter weather.

Do you need an expensive camera?

For a quality shot, exposure and stillness matter more. A tripod and a camera with manual settings will help. A modern smartphone will also capture the lights in night mode, but with fewer details. Check your settings in advance: finding them in the dark is hard.

Are the lights visible in Europe?

In Germany, Austria, and Switzerland the Aurora is seen rarely, only during strong storms. The benchmark: a Kp index of 5 or higher. Even then you need a dark patch of sky without light pollution. It is more reliable to travel to polar latitudes: Norway, Iceland, Scandinavia, the Arctic Circle.

In short: what to book

If you have only two nights: take a base in Tromsø and a tour that takes you out of the city. If you are going in winter: add a car and drive away from light pollution. If you are going to Iceland: watch the cloud forecast in advance. If you dream of the classic experience: plan for Lapland and Scandinavia.

Check the Kp index, keep three or four nights in reserve, and book an Aurora tour on GetYourGuide.