Tonight, you have a good chance to see the northern lights if conditions cooperate. Here’s a quick guide to maximize your chances and know when to look. What to look for tonight

• Expect higher aurora activity during geomagnetic disturbances. Look for alerts from NOAA or your local space weather service for the latest forecast.
• Best viewing window: typically after sunset through late night, often from about 9 p.m. local time onward, extending into the early morning hours if skies stay clear.
• Location matters: find a dark, open horizon away from bright city lights. Clear skies are essential.

How to time your viewing

• Check a local aurora forecast for tonight to identify the peak window in your time zone (often a 2–5 hour period once darkness falls).
• If you’re in the U.S. or Canada, northern regions and higher latitudes have the strongest chances, but strong geomagnetic activity can bring auroras farther south.

Tips to improve your odds

• Scout early: arrive before the predicted peak so you’re settled when the aurora brightens.
• Dress warmly and bring a chair or blanket to stay outside comfortably.
• Use a camera set to a long exposure (start with 5–15 seconds, high ISO, wide aperture) to capture faint displays. Your eyes may notice the brighter colors first; cameras can reveal more subtle glow.
• Be prepared for variability: auroras can appear, brighten, fade, or disappear within minutes.

What you might see tonight

• If NOAA/space weather alerts indicate strong or severe activity, expect bright, frequent displays that can be visible in relatively light-polluted areas, including some parts of the northern U.S. and southern Canada.
• In very clear conditions, strong displays can stretch across a wide arc near the north horizon and may include colors like green, red, and purple.

If you tell me your city or nearest town, I can tailor a specific tonight window and give you a more precise viewing time window and tips for your location.