Guide
Where can you see the aurora?
The aurora — the northern lights in the Arctic and the southern lights in the far south — sits in a ring around each magnetic pole. The stronger the geomagnetic storm, the further that ring pushes toward the equator. Here's how far it reaches, and the places under it.
How far the aurora reaches, by activity
| Activity | Northern hemisphere | Southern hemisphere |
|---|---|---|
| Kp 0–3any clear, dark night | Tromsø, Fairbanks, Iceland, Yellowknife | Antarctica (almost no land) |
| Kp 4–5active nights | Scotland, Oslo, Stockholm, Calgary | Open ocean — almost no land |
| Kp 6–7strong storms | London, Berlin, Seattle, Chicago | Tasmania, southern New Zealand |
| Kp 8–9severe storms | Texas, Florida, southern Europe | Melbourne, Sydney, South Africa |
| Extremerarest superstorms | Mexico, Hawaii, the Caribbean | Queensland, central Chile |
It's your geomagnetic latitude, not the one on the map
The aurora forms around the magnetic pole, which sits over Arctic Canada — not the geographic North Pole. So North America is tilted toward the oval: Yellowknife (62°N) and Churchill (59°N) are world-class, while in Europe you have to reach about 69°N — Tromsø — to see the same show. Same lights, roughly 7–10° of latitude difference. That's why we convert every location to its geomagnetic latitude before deciding.
Where to see the northern lights
Right under the ovalMost clear, dark nights — little or no storm needed.
TromsøKp 1+
NorwayAltaKp 1+
NorwayKirkenesKp 1+
NorwayNarvikKp 1+
NorwayAbiskoKp 1+
SwedenInariKp 1+
FinlandReykjavíkKp 1+
IcelandAkureyriKp 1+
IcelandNuukKp 1+
GreenlandIlulissatKp 1+
GreenlandFairbanksKp 1+
USAYellowknifeKp 1+
CanadaHammerfestKp 1+
NorwaySvolværKp 1+
NorwayHarstadKp 1+
NorwayVadsøKp 1+
NorwayLakselvKp 1+
NorwayÍsafjörðurKp 1+
IcelandEgilsstaðirKp 1+
IcelandKeflavíkKp 1+
IcelandUtqiagvikKp 1+
USANomeKp 1+
USATalkeetnaKp 1+
USAKotzebueKp 1+
USAInuvikKp 1+
CanadaIqaluitKp 1+
CanadaDawson CityKp 1+
CanadaFort SmithKp 1+
CanadaLongyearbyenKp 1+
NorwayKangerlussuaqKp 1+
GreenlandSisimiutKp 1+
GreenlandTasiilaqKp 1+
GreenlandSortlandKp 1+
NorwayAndenesKp 1+
NorwayHonningsvågKp 1+
NorwayKarasjokKp 1+
NorwayKautokeinoKp 1+
NorwayStykkishólmurKp 1+
IcelandHúsavíkKp 1+
IcelandBorgarnesKp 1+
IcelandHay RiverKp 1+
CanadaRankin InletKp 1+
CanadaCambridge BayKp 1+
CanadaGlennallenKp 1+
USAMehamnKp 1+
NorwayBerlevågKp 1+
NorwayVardøKp 1+
NorwaySkjervøyKp 1+
NorwayFinnsnesKp 1+
NorwayLeknesKp 1+
NorwayStokmarknesKp 1+
NorwayUtsjokiKp 1+
FinlandDalvíkKp 1+
IcelandSiglufjörðurKp 1+
IcelandSeyðisfjörðurKp 1+
IcelandGrundarfjörðurKp 1+
IcelandTuktoyaktukKp 1+
CanadaArviatKp 1+
CanadaTokKp 1+
USADelta JunctionKp 1+
USATiksiKp 1+
RussiaBodøKp 2+
NorwayKirunaKp 2+
SwedenRovaniemiKp 2+
FinlandSaariselkäKp 2+
FinlandAnchorageKp 2+
USAWhitehorseKp 2+
CanadaChurchillKp 2+
CanadaMo i RanaKp 2+
NorwayGällivareKp 2+
SwedenJokkmokkKp 2+
SwedenSodankyläKp 2+
FinlandKittiläKp 2+
FinlandMuonioKp 2+
FinlandVíkKp 2+
IcelandHöfnKp 2+
IcelandWasillaKp 2+
USAMurmanskKp 2+
RussiaNorilskKp 2+
RussiaQaqortoqKp 2+
GreenlandMosjøenKp 2+
NorwayPelloKp 2+
FinlandIvaloKp 2+
FinlandSelfossKp 2+
IcelandSoldotnaKp 2+
USAValdezKp 2+
USAKandalakshaKp 2+
RussiaApatityKp 2+
RussiaSandnessjøenKp 2+
NorwayBrønnøysundKp 2+
NorwayArjeplogKp 2+
SwedenSallaKp 2+
FinlandWatson LakeKp 2+
CanadaPalmerKp 2+
USACordovaKp 2+
USASeveromorskKp 2+
RussiaMonchegorskKp 2+
RussiaKirovskKp 2+
RussiaDudinkaKp 2+
RussiaAnadyrKp 2+
RussiaActive nightsNeeds a moderately active night or a minor storm.
TrondheimKp 3+
NorwayLuleåKp 3+
SwedenKemiKp 3+
FinlandOuluKp 3+
FinlandKuusamoKp 3+
FinlandJuneauKp 3+
USABethelKp 3+
USAFort McMurrayKp 3+
CanadaTórshavnKp 3+
Faroe IslandsSkellefteåKp 3+
SwedenPiteåKp 3+
SwedenBodenKp 3+
SwedenThompsonKp 3+
CanadaHomerKp 3+
USASitkaKp 3+
USAVorkutaKp 3+
RussiaNaryan-MarKp 3+
RussiaSteinkjerKp 3+
NorwayNamsosKp 3+
NorwayHaparandaKp 3+
SwedenKalixKp 3+
SwedenArvidsjaurKp 3+
SwedenStorumanKp 3+
SwedenLyckseleKp 3+
SwedenPosioKp 3+
FinlandIgarkaKp 3+
RussiaLillehammerKp 4+
NorwayÖstersundKp 4+
SwedenUmeåKp 4+
SwedenSundsvallKp 4+
SwedenLerwickKp 4+
United KingdomArkhangelskKp 4+
RussiaSalekhardKp 4+
RussiaÅlesundKp 4+
NorwayMoldeKp 4+
NorwayRørosKp 4+
NorwayKuopioKp 4+
FinlandVaasaKp 4+
FinlandSeverodvinskKp 4+
RussiaKajaaniKp 4+
FinlandKokkolaKp 4+
FinlandLa RongeKp 4+
CanadaThe PasKp 4+
CanadaKodiakKp 4+
USAScallowayKp 4+
United KingdomIntaKp 4+
RussiaNadymKp 4+
RussiaNovy UrengoyKp 4+
RussiaOsloKp 5+
NorwayEdmontonKp 5+
CanadaInvernessKp 5+
United KingdomBergenKp 5+
NorwayStavangerKp 5+
NorwayUppsalaKp 5+
SwedenTampereKp 5+
FinlandTurkuKp 5+
FinlandSaskatoonKp 5+
CanadaPrince GeorgeKp 5+
CanadaThursoKp 5+
United KingdomKirkwallKp 5+
United KingdomStornowayKp 5+
United KingdomYakutskKp 5+
RussiaDrammenKp 5+
NorwayFredrikstadKp 5+
NorwayKarlstadKp 5+
SwedenJoensuuKp 5+
FinlandJyväskyläKp 5+
FinlandLahtiKp 5+
FinlandRed DeerKp 5+
CanadaUllapoolKp 5+
United KingdomPetrozavodskKp 5+
RussiaHamarKp 5+
NorwayGjøvikKp 5+
NorwayMoraKp 5+
SwedenFalunKp 5+
SwedenGävleKp 5+
SwedenBorlängeKp 5+
SwedenSavonlinnaKp 5+
FinlandLabrador CityKp 5+
CanadaPrince AlbertKp 5+
CanadaPortreeKp 5+
United KingdomLochinverKp 5+
United KingdomDurnessKp 5+
United KingdomUkhtaKp 5+
RussiaStorm chasersOnly on strong geomagnetic storms — but huge when it hits.
StockholmKp 6+
SwedenHelsinkiKp 6+
FinlandCalgaryKp 6+
CanadaAberdeenKp 6+
United KingdomEdinburghKp 6+
United KingdomKristiansandKp 6+
NorwayGothenburgKp 6+
SwedenAalborgKp 6+
DenmarkSkagenKp 6+
DenmarkReginaKp 6+
CanadaWinnipegKp 6+
CanadaGlasgowKp 6+
United KingdomDundeeKp 6+
United KingdomFort WilliamKp 6+
United KingdomLetterkennyKp 6+
IrelandTallinnKp 6+
EstoniaSaint PetersburgKp 6+
RussiaÖrebroKp 6+
SwedenLinköpingKp 6+
SwedenNorrköpingKp 6+
SwedenVisbyKp 6+
SwedenKenoraKp 6+
CanadaSept-ÎlesKp 6+
CanadaKelownaKp 6+
CanadaKamloopsKp 6+
CanadaBanffKp 6+
CanadaBrandonKp 6+
CanadaTartuKp 6+
EstoniaSurgutKp 6+
RussiaMagadanKp 6+
RussiaMedicine HatKp 6+
CanadaTobermoryKp 6+
United KingdomHawickKp 6+
United KingdomMalmöKp 7+
SwedenCopenhagenKp 7+
DenmarkAarhusKp 7+
DenmarkThunder BayKp 7+
CanadaVancouverKp 7+
CanadaGanderKp 7+
CanadaNewcastle upon TyneKp 7+
United KingdomManchesterKp 7+
United KingdomBelfastKp 7+
United KingdomDublinKp 7+
IrelandGalwayKp 7+
IrelandRigaKp 7+
LatviaTimminsKp 7+
CanadaVictoriaKp 7+
CanadaGreat FallsKp 7+
USAGrand ForksKp 7+
USAYorkKp 7+
United KingdomLeedsKp 7+
United KingdomLiverpoolKp 7+
United KingdomSligoKp 7+
IrelandWestportKp 7+
IrelandCorner BrookKp 7+
CanadaVal-d'OrKp 7+
CanadaRouyn-NorandaKp 7+
CanadaNanaimoKp 7+
CanadaWillistonKp 7+
USAMinotKp 7+
USAHoughtonKp 7+
USAKeswickKp 7+
United KingdomDonegalKp 7+
IrelandBundoranKp 7+
IrelandBallinaKp 7+
IrelandSeattleKp 8+
USAMinneapolisKp 8+
USALondonKp 8+
United KingdomOttawaKp 8+
CanadaMontrealKp 8+
CanadaSpokaneKp 8+
USABillingsKp 8+
USABismarckKp 8+
USAFargoKp 8+
USADuluthKp 8+
USAMarquetteKp 8+
USACardiffKp 8+
United KingdomCorkKp 8+
IrelandHamburgKp 8+
GermanyAmsterdamKp 8+
NetherlandsGdańskKp 8+
PolandVilniusKp 8+
LithuaniaMoscowKp 8+
RussiaQuebec CityKp 8+
CanadaSault Ste. MarieKp 8+
CanadaNorth BayKp 8+
CanadaSt. John'sKp 8+
CanadaFrederictonKp 8+
CanadaHelenaKp 8+
USAMissoulaKp 8+
USACaribouKp 8+
USAWickKp 8+
United KingdomSheffieldKp 8+
United KingdomBirminghamKp 8+
United KingdomAberystwythKp 8+
United KingdomDingleKp 8+
IrelandBremenKp 8+
GermanyKaunasKp 8+
LithuaniaYekaterinburgKp 8+
RussiaNizhny NovgorodKp 8+
RussiaSudburyKp 8+
CanadaMonctonKp 8+
CanadaEau ClaireKp 8+
USAEscanabaKp 8+
USAPresque IsleKp 8+
USAChicagoKp 9+
USABerlinKp 9+
GermanyHalifaxKp 9+
CanadaPortlandKp 9+
USABoiseKp 9+
USAGreen BayKp 9+
USADetroitKp 9+
USABuffaloKp 9+
USABurlingtonKp 9+
USABangorKp 9+
USABostonKp 9+
USASalt Lake CityKp 9+
USADenverKp 9+
USAMunichKp 9+
GermanyCologneKp 9+
GermanyFrankfurtKp 9+
GermanyBrusselsKp 9+
BelgiumWarsawKp 9+
PolandViennaKp 9+
AustriaPragueKp 9+
CzechiaZurichKp 9+
SwitzerlandParisKp 9+
FranceSioux FallsKp 9+
USARapid CityKp 9+
USACheyenneKp 9+
USACasperKp 9+
USAMadisonKp 9+
USAMilwaukeeKp 9+
USATraverse CityKp 9+
USAPittsburghKp 9+
USAAlbanyKp 9+
USARotterdamKp 9+
NetherlandsHannoverKp 9+
GermanyDresdenKp 9+
GermanyLeipzigKp 9+
GermanyKrakówKp 9+
PolandPoznańKp 9+
PolandWrocławKp 9+
PolandGenevaKp 9+
SwitzerlandBernKp 9+
SwitzerlandSalzburgKp 9+
AustriaInnsbruckKp 9+
AustriaLyonKp 9+
FranceStrasbourgKp 9+
FranceNovosibirskKp 9+
RussiaKrasnoyarskKp 9+
RussiaPierreKp 9+
USAPlattsburghKp 9+
USAMontpelierKp 9+
USATomskKp 9+
RussiaOmskKp 9+
RussiaWhere to see the southern lights
The southern auroral oval sits mostly over open ocean, so these are the few inhabited places close enough to catch aurora australis — looking south over a low horizon when a storm pushes the lights toward the equator. Ushuaia sits near the South Atlantic Anomaly, a weak spot in Earth's field, so it needs a stronger storm than its far-south latitude suggests.
HobartKp 6+
AustraliaObanKp 6+
New ZealandDunedinKp 7+
New ZealandQueenstownKp 7+
New ZealandLauncestonKp 7+
AustraliaInvercargillKp 7+
New ZealandDevonportKp 7+
AustraliaBurnieKp 7+
AustraliaGoreKp 7+
New ZealandTe AnauKp 7+
New ZealandAlexandraKp 7+
New ZealandCromwellKp 7+
New ZealandNasebyKp 7+
New ZealandStrahanKp 7+
AustraliaSmithtonKp 7+
AustraliaBalcluthaKp 7+
New ZealandBluffKp 7+
New ZealandManapouriKp 7+
New ZealandMount GambierKp 8+
AustraliaChristchurchKp 8+
New ZealandWanakaKp 8+
New ZealandTekapoKp 8+
New ZealandWarrnamboolKp 8+
AustraliaTimaruKp 8+
New ZealandPort FairyKp 8+
AustraliaApollo BayKp 8+
AustraliaTwizelKp 8+
New ZealandMethvenKp 8+
New ZealandUshuaiaKp 9+
ArgentinaMelbourneKp 9+
AustraliaAdelaideKp 9+
AustraliaSydneyKp 9+
AustraliaCanberraKp 9+
AustraliaPerthKp 9+
AustraliaWellingtonKp 9+
New ZealandPunta ArenasKp 9+
ChilePuerto WilliamsKp 9+
ChileRío GallegosKp 9+
ArgentinaEl CalafateKp 9+
ArgentinaCape TownKp 9+
South AfricaStanleyKp 9+
Falkland IslandsGeelongKp 9+
AustraliaBallaratKp 9+
AustraliaBendigoKp 9+
AustraliaEsperanceKp 9+
AustraliaNelsonKp 9+
New ZealandGreymouthKp 9+
New ZealandCoyhaiqueKp 9+
ChilePorvenirKp 9+
ChileRío GrandeKp 9+
ArgentinaTolhuinKp 9+
ArgentinaComodoro RivadaviaKp 9+
ArgentinaBarilocheKp 9+
ArgentinaLakes EntranceKp 9+
AustraliaHokitikaKp 9+
New ZealandPuerto NatalesKp 9+
ChilePuerto MadrynKp 9+
ArgentinaTrelewKp 9+
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