Where To See The Northern Lights This Weekend — 15 Dark Sky Places

Will you see the northern lights from the U.S. this weekend? Our star is close to its once-in-11-year “solar maximum” peak in magnetic activity, but it’s not only that. Solar activity is currently higher than it has been for a generation, with May 10’s extreme G5 geomagnetic storm a prime example. It’s just possible that this weekend could see a rival event, with the smart money on Sunday night.

With the sun spitting out more (and more intense) solar flares are the scary-sounding coronal mass ejections (clumps of charged particles), aurora are appearing farther from the polar regions — where they typically hang out — than for 23 years.

Meanwhile, Comet A3, also known as C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS), will shortly be a (possibly very bright) post-sunset object in the west after sunset from around Oct. 12, when it reaches its closest to Earth.

Despite that, here’s a truth about the northern lights and comets that you need to know: light pollution murders them! Being in a city during a once-on-a-lifetime aurora display, particularly while a comet pays the inner solar system a visit, is to be avoided.

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Northern Lights Tonight?

So, should you drive to an International Dark Sky Place as soon as you hear about the possible incoming display of northern lights? Not quite. First, check NOAA’s Aurora Dashboard, specifically for the Aurora Viewline for Tonight and Tomorrow. Secondly, take into account the phase of the moon. Racing away from light pollution on the night of the full moon is completely pointless because a dark sky will be impossible to find. To make a drive into the wilderness worth it, you’ll need a G4 or G5 geomagnetic storm prediction, clear weather (don’t forget that!) and either a new moon, waxing crescent moon or a waning crescent moon.

With that research done, use a light pollution map to identify somewhere dark near you.

Where To See The Northern Lights And The Comet

Here are some suggestions across the U.S. —with a slight bias towards the northern U.S. states, where aurora are more common — for Dark Sky Parks where the northern lights will look their best if conditions are right.

• Redwood National and State Parks, California
• Lassen Volcanic National Park, California
• Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
• North Cascades National Park, Washington
• Glacier National Park, Montana
• Craters of The Moon National Monument, Idaho
• Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota
• Badlands National Park, South DakotaVoyageurs National Park, Minnesota
• Newport State Park, Wisconsin
• Isle Royale National Park and Preserve, Michigan
• Acadia National Park, Maine
• Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, Maine
• Cherry Springs State Park, Pennsylvania
• The Headlands, Michigan

Aurora are typically seen in polar regions at around latitudes of 70 degrees north and south, but during extreme geomagnetic conditions the auroral oval can bulge, with displays then seen as far as 40 degrees north and south.

Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.