There are a few key factors driving the increase in visible Northern Lights sightings nowadays: solar activity, geomagnetic conditions, and light pollution (or rather, the decrease in it in prime viewing regions). What’s driving more frequent or brighter auroras now

• Higher solar activity: The Sun follows an roughly 11-year cycle. We’re currently moving toward a solar maximum, which means more sunspots and more energetic solar storms. When the Sun emits large bursts of charged particles, Earth’s magnetosphere is bombarded more intensely, fueling brighter and more widespread auroras [source context: solar cycle dynamics and ongoing observations].
• Stronger geomagnetic storms: Enhanced solar winds and coronal mass ejections can trigger geomagnetic storms. These storms push auroral activity to lower latitudes and increase the likelihood that people outside extreme Arctic regions will still see vivid displays [context: how solar wind interacts with Earth's magnetic field].
• Timing of solar maximum: Recent years have seen sustained high solar activity, and projections for 2025–2026 indicate continued elevated activity. That means more opportunities for displays than in quiet solar years [context: cycle peak timing and observed activity].
• Geography and seasonality: Auroras are most visible in high-latitude locations (e.g., parts of Scandinavia, Iceland, Greenland, Canada, Alaska). Clear, dark skies near the polar regions maximize visibility. Cloud cover, moonlight, and local light pollution affect how clearly they’re seen from any given site [context: viewing conditions and geography].

Practical tips to maximize chances of seeing them

• Time your viewing around solar activity forecasts and local aurora alerts—think late autumn to early spring in the Northern Hemisphere, when nights are long and skies are dark.
• Check the KP index (a rough measure of geomagnetic activity) forecasts; higher KP values correlate with stronger auroras at lower latitudes.
• Choose dark-sky locations away from city lights, with clear horizons and minimal atmospheric moisture for sharper displays.
• Be prepared for variability: auroras can appear and fade quickly, so flexibility and patience improve chances.

If you’d like, I can pull up current forecasts, viewing tips for a specific location, or explain how to read aurora alerts in more detail.