How to See the Northern Lights

Everyone wants to catch a glimpse of nature’s best light-show. The Aurora holds a special place in the global imagination and therefore always seems to end up on everyone’s bucket list. The photos taunt us from the pages of travel magazines and the instagrams of our lest favourite co-workers. Now it’s time for you to get out there and see them yourself! If your only goal is to see the northern lights and all else seems a moot point, then a professional aurora tour out of a lodge is probably your best shot. These aren’t usually cheap, but you do maximize your chances of seeing some lights.

However this guide is primarily for the more independently minded. People who want to go out and find them by themselves. You’re going to need a few tricks to get out in the snow and start spotting some lights.

1. Timing and Weather

Over the next four to five years will be some of the best aurora viewing as we crest the zenith of the 11 year solar cycle. So, if the lights have been on your bucket list now is a great time to strap on your snow-boots and find that glow! We could reach that peak activity any time between now and 2025!

In my experience, the best times of year to see the northern lights is during the fall and spring seasons. You’re going to want to pick a clear night so keep an eye on the forecast.

2. KP Index

Your KP index is your aurora richter scale. She’s gonna tell you how bright and active the lights will be. It measures the degree of disturbance in our atmosphere caused by solar winds, which in turn creates the lights. The scale runs from zero to nine and can be found on a variety of apps. Personally, I use Aurora, which can be found in the App Store and Google Play. It’s easy to use, includes forecasts, and when KP is high it sends alerts right to your phone! I’ve seen aurora in the sky when the KP is as low as two, but in general it’s worth going outside fo four and up.

3. Best Locations

According to the wealth of indisputable information that is the internet, the best places to go to see the aurora are northern Scandinavia, northern Canada, and Alaska. I’m sure all of these places make for some incredible lights, but I also encourage you to consider what you’re going to do if the lights don’t make an appearance. Is there anything else to do in the area? Consider choosing an area with skiing, dog sledding, or a beautiful hotel with at least a really nice restaurant!

Once you get there you’re looking for clear, ideally north-facing sky. Think lake shores, tundra or grasslands, and lookout points. If you’re driving to your spot, remember to keep your eyes on the road and always let someone know where you are. Remote roads can turn dangerous very quickly, especially if it’s icy out, and if you get in an accident, you’re going to want to someone to know where to start looking.

5. Patience, patience, patience

When searching for lights, patience is key. When you go out looking for lights dress warm, hell bring a sleeping bag and some hot coco! Even if the lights are going crazy from the jump, your eyes are going to need a minute to adjust just like they would while stargazing. Initially, all you might see is faint wisps of white light that might even look a bit like clouds, but stick around.

6. It’s not like in the pictures.

The author out watching the Aurora on a cold night in 2023 (Jasper, Canada)

The northern lights might be one of the only natural phenomena on earth that look better on camera. I find they often appear lighter and move slower than people expect. Seeing them in person is a downright religious experience, but the truth is cameras, even phone cameras, pick up on the colours much better. My advice, if you think you might see something but aren’t sure, switch your camera on to long exposure and take a pic! There might be more there than you think.

7. STEVE

It’s not just the lights you should look out for! When KP is high keep an eye out for Steve! Steve was first sighted in Jasper National Park in 2016 and appears as a purple band flowing across the sky, always from east to west. He was discovered by some amateur aurora spotters who were then blessed with the honour of naming their new discovery. Thus was born STEVE, a nod to the hedge in the animated movie Over the Hedge. Like the Hedge, STEVE (which stands for Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement) was a mysterious entity that had appeared out of nowhere that no one understood. New now know that the phenomenon is caused by sub-auroral ion drift, but in my incredibly unscientific mind, he will always just be STEVE.

Happy aurora spotting! Get out there, get cold, and see some lights!