The aurora borealis is a natural light display best seen in high-latitude regions around the Arctic. It’s most commonly visible within the auroral zone, roughly 60° to 70° latitude in both hemispheres, and its exact position shifts with solar activity (the solar wind) and geomagnetic conditions. In practice, the northern lights are typically seen from places like southern Alaska, much of Canada, Iceland, Greenland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and northern Russia, with occasional appearances at much lower latitudes during strong geomagnetic storms. For southern observers, auroras are called the aurora australis. Key takeaway for where to see it now

• Best regions: Northern Norway (Tromsø and surroundings), Swedish Lapland, Finnish Lapland (Rovaniemi and beyond), Iceland, parts of Scotland and Ireland can occasionally see them, and Alaska/Canada offer frequent displays.
• Timing: The lights are most visible in dark, clear mid-winter nights, away from bright moonlight and light pollution; peak activity often occurs around local midnight to pre-dawn, depending on solar conditions.
• Weather and timing tips: Check aurora forecasts from reputable space weather sources and look for clear skies; a period of sustained solar activity (geomagnetic storms) increases the odds and can push the aurora to lower latitudes.

If you’d like, I can pull current aurora forecasts and the latest viewing tips for a specific location you have in mind.