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What Time is the Northern Lights Visible at Night?

what time is the northern lights at night

Itching to know when the aurora might be seen overhead? In this article, we explain what time is the northern lights most likely visible in the night sky, based on stages of twilight, moon cycle, season and more.

The northern lights are one of the most amazing natural phenomena visible from the earth’s surface. These vivid displays of colorful lights dancing through the night skies result from collisions between charged particles ejected from the sun and the earth’s magnetosphere. But timing is everything when it comes to increasing your chances of catching a glimpse of the elusive lights show.

Therefore, many people wishing to view mesmerizing and vivid displays of the aurora borealis for the first time, naturally want to know what time is the northern lights visible at night.

Unfortunately, the answer is not as easy as saying “10pm to 2pm” (for example), because the best timing relies on several moving parts including twilight stages, location, season, moon cycle and of course, geomagnetic activity. While we can’t give you a straight answer, what we’ll do instead is explain how to calculate the best time of night to see northern lights for your location and time of year.

What Time is the Northern Lights Visible?

Because the northern lights are created by the ejection of charged particles from the sun, they can technically form at any point of the day, regardless of the time of year. However, the brighter the night sky is, the more difficult it is to see the display.

There are three main factors that determine what time northern lights become visible at night:

  • Different stages of twilight, which determines the overall darkness of the night sky
  • Moon phase and moon rise/set times
  • Geomagnetic activity

Moon Phase

You are probably already well aware of how much light a full moon casts if you’ve ever walked outside at night. While the full moon is useful for being able to see in the dark for walking, it is undesirable for aurora-watching or star-gazing for the simple reason that the sky itself is also much lighter.

For good aurora-watching and photography, very dark skies are required, which is why we recommend that you plan the timing of your northern lights hunt to coincide with a new/dark moon. Ensuring that you plan your hunt for a new/dark moon is very important, but if you cannot, then instead make sure that you keep a close eye on the moon rise/set times and plan your outing accordingly.

Geomagnetic Activity

You also want to plan your northern lights trip timing according to predicted geomagnetic activity. There is little point in meticulously planning your outing around the moon set/rise times and twilight stages, if the geomagnetic activity is predicted to be very low, as there will simply be nothing to see in the sky.

You can monitor geomagnetic activity via a northern lights app or aurora forecast website, which often give forecasts right down to the hour.

Twilight Stages

After you’ve got your moon phases right and checked for geomagnetic activity, the next step is to look at the different stages of twilight.

Twilight in this context, refers to how much sunlight remains in the sky after sunset. As many of us already know, after the sun dips below the horizon the sky isn’t suddenly pitch dark, instead the sky still slowly fade into full darkness, as a result of residual light in the sky.

While most people assume that there is only day and night, we can actually classify the transition from day to night into 3 distinct stages of twilight.

best time of night to see northern lights moon cycle
To work out the best time of night to see northern lights, check the moon cycle and steer clear of full moons.

Best Time of Night to See Northern Lights (Twilight Stages)

Assuming that you are in a dark/new moon phase, the best way to determine the best time of night to see northern lights is by planning around the twilight stages. However, this information is only useful if the moon is in a dark phase (or has not risen), and geomagnetic conditions are ideal.

Here we explain what the stages of twilight are and their bearing on aurora visibility. The actual times of the twilight stages vary massively depending on the time of year and location. If you’re looking for a precise answer on what time is the northern lights visible, more information on calculating exact times is further down.

Civil Twilight

Sun Position: 0-6° below horizon

Civil twilight begins as soon the sun sets beyond the horizon, and will last until the sun has reached a point that is roughly 6° below the visible horizon. Likewise, civil twilight begins once the sun is roughly 6° below the visible horizon until the sun physically rises above it.

During this time of night, there is still plenty of light to carry out many different outdoor activities without ever needing any form of artificial light. As a result, it is generally very difficult to view the northern lights during civil twilight. However, in locations that are well within the auroral oval, it is still possible to view the aurora borealis when the solar activity is strong enough.

Within the Auroral Oval

It is possible to capture a glimpse of the flickering lights well within the auroral oval depending, on how close to the magnetic poles you are, and how strong the solar activity is at the time. During the peak of the solar cycle, it is possible to view faint displays during civil twilight and locations well within the Arctic Circle.

Outside the Auroral Oval

Unfortunately, for those who are living farther south, it will be virtually impossible to view the aurora borealis during civil twilight. The skies are just too bright to see even a faint display of the ghostly lights.

Nautical Twilight

Sun Position: 6-12° below horizon

Nautical twilight begins at that 6° point below the horizon and continues until 12°. And, during nautical twilight, the chances that you will be able to capture a glimpse of the aurora borealis increases dramatically thanks to the darker skies. The darker the skies, the greater the chances of viewing the elusive lights. As a general rule, you should be able to see fairly vivid displays of lights well within the auroral oval, and may even be able to view faint displays farther south.

Within the Auroral Oval

As the night transitions into nautical twilight, the chances of catching a glimpse of the aurora borealis well within the auroral oval increases dramatically. During this time of night, the stars begin to shine through, providing aurora hunters with the first opportunity to view vivid displays of the natural phenomena.

Outside the Auroral Oval

For those who live outside of the auroral oval, the ability to view the aurora borealis is highly dependent upon the amount of solar activity. During the peak of the solar cycle, viewing the elusive lights from areas just outside of the auroral oval is possible. However, even during the strongest solar storms, it will be very difficult to capture a glimpse of the lights below the 49th parallel.

what time is the northern lights astronomical twilight and night
What time is the northern lights most likely to be seen? Aim for astronomical twilight and full night, for maximum darkness.

Astronomical Twilight

Sun Position: 12-18° below horizon

Astronomical twilight is the period between 12° and 18° below the horizon. It occurs both after sunset and before sunrise and is the period in which the sky is almost completely dark. During astronomical twilight, the first faint stars become visible, and the chances of viewing the northern lights increase dramatically.

During astronomical twilight, the sky is dark enough to see vivid displays of the aurora borealis should they occur. It also provides aurora hunters with optimal viewing conditions, especially in the far north, as the temperature is still tolerable during this part of the evening.

Within the Auroral Oval

Astronomical twilight is the part of night in which the chances of capturing a glimpse of the elusive lights increase the most. If the Phantom lights make an appearance during astronomical twilight, those who are viewing from areas well within the auroral oval are virtually guaranteed to see mesmerizing and vivid displays.

Outside the Auroral Oval

For those who are outside of the auroral oval, astronomical twilight also provides the first opportunity to view vivid displays of the natural phenomena. During the peak of the solar cycle, it is even possible to see the ghostly lights below the 49th parallel.

Full Night

Sun Position: More than 18° below horizon

The true concept of night begins when the sun has gone farther than 18° below the horizon, and continues until it reaches the morning nautical twilight stage. It is during the night, that the sky is at its darkest as there is absolutely no sunlight to interfere with the visibility of the natural phenomena.

When it comes to the perfect time for viewing the northern lights, the dark night sky provides a perfect backdrop to view the vibrant colors of the auroras as they dance through the dark skies. Not only will you be able to view mesmerizing displays well within the auroral oval, but regions that are farther south can also provide you with awe-inspiring displays.

Within the Auroral Oval

Nighttime is the perfect time for viewing the northern lights regardless of whether you are well within the auroral oval or are further south. It is the time of night when the skies are shrouded in complete darkness, where only artificial light pollution created by major cities or natural light pollution created by a full moon can interfere with your chances of viewing the lights.

Outside the Auroral Oval

During the peak of the solar cycle, it is possible to view the elusive lights during the darkest part of the evening well below the 49th parallel. In fact, it is not uncommon to view vivid displays as far south as Tennessee, Rotterdam, or even Tokyo.

What Time is the Northern Lights Most Visible?

When researching exactly what time is the northern lights most visible, based on the different twilight stages (civil, nautical, astronomical, full night), there is no one definitive answer. This is because the times of the twilight stages vary depending on the time of year (season) and the location (latitude, longitude).

A reliable tool for calculating twilight stages in your location is the TimeandDate.com twilight calculator. Another one is the US Navy astronomical applications department calculator, although their data output is more difficult to decipher. The TimeandDate.com data is much more user-friendly.

TimeandDate.com sun calculator:

https://www.timeanddate.com/scripts/go.php?type=sun

US Navy Astronomical Applications Department sun calculator:

https://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/RS_OneYear

What Time is the Northern Lights Most Likely Visible?

Using the TimeandDate.com calculator above, here is the data for astronomical and night times (combined) for the most popular aurora-hunting locations worldwide, to give you an overview of what time is the northern lights visible for your region. Astronomical twilight and full night offer excellent darkness, and is therefore the best time of night for aurora-hunting.

Astronomical Twilight & Night Times

LOCATIONSPRING
(20 Mar)
SUMMER
(21 June)
AUTUMN
(22 Sept)
WINTER
(21 Dec)
Alaska, FairbanksStart 9:56pm
End 6:02am
None*Start 9:40pm
End 5:43am
Start 5:17pm
End 8:21am
Canada, WhitehorseStart 9:51pm
End 6:25am
None*Start 9:31pm
End 6:12am
Start 6:46pm
End 9:10am
Iceland, ReykjavikStart 9:31pm
End 5:40am
None*Start 9:12pm
End 5:25am
Start 5:58pm
End 8:54am
Norway, TromsoStart 8:21pm
End 3:24am
None*Start 9:02pm
End 4:07am
Start 3:37pm
End 7:46am
Finland, RovaniemiStart 8:32pm
End 4:18am
None*Start 9:14pm
End 5:02am
Start 4:33pm
End 7:56am
Greenland, IlulissatStart 9:59pm
End 5:07am
None*Start 10:37pm
End 5:52am
Start 5:21pm
End 9:23am
Sweden, AbiskoStart 8:12pm
End 3:35am
None*Start 8:53pm
End 4:18am
Start 3:48pm
End 7:37am
Tasmania, Australia
(Aurora Australis)
Autumn
Start 8:21pm
End 6:13am
Winter
Start 5:51pm
End 6:33am
Spring
Start 7:08pm
End 4:58am
Summer
Start 10:10pm
End 4:07am
New Zealand
(Aurora Australis)
Autumn
Start 9:03pm
End 6:43am
Winter
Start 6:19pm
End 7:17am
Spring
Start 7:49pm
End 5:30am
Summer
Start 11:11pm
End 4:17am
*Astronomical twilight and full night do not occur at all.

Other Considerations for Northern Lights Timing

Location

Location is everything. While it is possible to view the northern lights well within the auroral oval during civil, nautical, and astronomical twilight, those who are farther south will only be able to view the displays during the astronomical twilight and full night.

Season and Time of Year

Another important factor is time of year (season). The reason that we discuss the best time of year to view the northern lights in our articles so frequently, is because of how the seasons relate to the twilight stages, and subsequently the amount of darkness in the sky.

In summer, the ‘full night’ and ‘astronomical twilight’ stages are non-existent in the auroral oval, due to the very short days and midnight sun phenomena. This means throughout summer, the sky constantly holds a lot of light, making it very difficult to observe the aurora borealis. For this reason, winter with its long nights and short days, is generally the best season to target for a northern lights trip.

Weather

Of course, if cloudy weather is forecast, including snow storms, your chances of seeing the aurora borealis will be reduced to nothing regardless of how right you get everything else. If it looks like the cloud has settled in, tuck in for a good nights sleep and try again tomorrow.

Conclusion

That wraps up our guide to what time is the northern lights visible. While this article probably didn’t give you the clear answer you were perhaps hoping for, I hope you now have an understanding and appreciation for the different factors that influence northern lights visibility. You should now also have the tools to calculate when to head outside for your hunt. To recap, the main things to look out for when deciding what time is the northern lights best viewed in your location, are:

  • Moon cycle – aim for dark/new moon
  • Geomagnetic activity – monitor aurora activity and alerts with a northern lights app
  • Twilight stages – choose astronomical twilight and full night for the darkest skies (which also relates to the season)

And of course, keep your eye on the weather forecast, as you will need nice clear skies to see anything worthwhile up there.

Happy aurora hunting!

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