Northern Lights

[one bullet]

My wife is really interested in viewing the Northern Lights somewhere in the continental US. What state would be the best location to do this? Also, what time of year? I understand further up in Canada would be better but we plan to stay in the US. It doesn't matter if it's out west or up in Maine somewhere.I don't understand the science of it all but hope to find a location where it would be the most vivid and spectacular. I wouldn't mind if someone is really specific about a location such as a specific town or road. Thanks in advance!

 

[Valmet]

Can't say that I know first-hand but I'm thinking you may want to look into Northern Maine?

 

[pisgah]

Except for rare and largely unpredictable times the Northern Lights are not visible below about 65 degrees north latitude -- which means that the only reliable place to view them in the US is Alaska -- and even there not all the time. The far northern reaches of Idaho, Minnesota and Maine occasionally see the lights, but almost exclusively in the dead of winter when the skies are "severe clear" and solar storm activity is extremely high. So no one is going to be able to tell you, "Stop at the pull-off about 5 miles northwest of Van Buren, ME on US 1 on Thursday nights about 11 PM." Yes, there have been times when the lights put in an appearance further south, but these are "once in several lifetimes" events.

 

[bogus bill]

When I was raised in Wisconsin I remember seeing them. I imagine farther north would be better though. Back then it looked like a far away battle going on.

 

[Ruger1441]

I saw them once in southern UT.

 

[gramps]

Fairbanks, Alaska! Then Google Northern Lights for the time of year. I went in Sept. Our hotel called us at 0030 to tell us the NL were out as requested. We went out of town a ways and watched for 1.5 hrs. That was all we could stand of 19 degree weather. Good luck!
gramps
Ps I have seen the Northern Lights in Calhoun, Ga.

 

[Kevin]

Crane Lake Minnesota, go in the summertime. There are lots of resorts for fishing, it's near the new Boundry Waters Nationa Park. I used to work there at a resort and at night we would sit on the beach and watch them at night looking North across the lake, which is only 3 miles or so to Canada.

 

[tom black]

The only time I've ever seen them from western Kentucky was close to 30 years ago. It was in November, the night before opening day of deer season. Won't ever forget it.
Tom Black

 

[powder smoke]

Can't say that I know first-hand but I'm thinking you may want to look into Northern Maine?

Yup the came be view in Maine even central Maine. Thing is, it is unpredictable
sometimes you see them other times not so much. ps

 

[Dan in MI]

I have seen them a few times in my life at home and I am in southern MI. The farther north the better. Then you need the right combination of solar flares, sunspots, or whatever it is that creates them. (I don't remember offhand) My experiences have been fall and winter. That seems to be the best time as far as I know.

The problem you have is limiting yourself to continental U.S. and they aren't something you can predict reliably to set your dates and go. Maine sounds like a good option as you will want the darkest skies you can find and it may be closer for you. Definitely get away from any cities.

 

[BlkHawk73]

I can remember seeing them rather often as a kid but don't recall them since but then again, haven't looked either. I know there's a whole site on this that gives probability and locations. Give Google a try.

 

[TucsonDirt]

When I lived in Grand Forks ND and worked second or third shift on the AFB I would often see them in the northern sky on the way to or from work.
I have also seen them on the shore of Lake McDonald on Glacier NP in Montana.

 

[NEMThunter]

I have seen them in June in the Northeast corner of MT. Around 11:30 to midnight. This has happened on more then one time. Most always between 11:00 and midnight. Just that one hour window. They are nice thats for sure. Funny thing is I have see them more often in the summer then the winter.. They also rarely last for more then 30 minutes. most time only 15. So yes a very small window to find.

 

[kodiakken]

Central Alberta here and in the middle of winter is the best time to see them.
The farther North you go the brighter and more active they seem to be.
I use to haul up to the Diamond mines in the Northwest Territories and I have seen Northern Lights my whole life, but those are the ones that I think of anytime someone mentions Northern Lights.
Ken.

 

[turd]

Don't know the science, won't argue this at all, but I lived in north central South Dakota for a while and saw them there several times as I recall.

 

[GP100]

I've only seen them once in my life.. And that was Alaska.. They were beautiful though..

 

[ndcowboy]

I live in central North Dakota and see them frequently in the winter. I spent three months not far from Fairbanks about 15 years ago and they were quite vivid there also.

 

[one bullet]

Thanks everybody. I would love to cross the border into Alberta but haven't traveled outside the US before. Alberta jst looks like beautiful country. Would love to see the lights from there but will probably stay in the contiguous US.

 

[CGDustDevil]

Can't say that I know first-hand but I'm thinking you may want to look into Northern Maine?

Yup the came be view in Maine even central Maine. Thing is, it is unpredictable
sometimes you see them other times not so much. ps

I grew up in Bangor, Maine... I saw the Northern Lights exactly once! And really, we could only see the glow, not the 'body' of the phenomenon.

Alaska, Northern Yukon, Canadian Rockies, Newfoundland, Labrador, etc will get you the best seats...

 

[exavid]

Living at Kotzebue, AK north of the Arctic Circle for twelve years gave me a lot of Aurora Borealis watching time. A couple of times during high solar activity it was really impressive, very bright and shifting shapes rapidly. The Inuit people swear you can hear it crackle at times. I never did but I wouldn't doubt it some times when it is really active.
There are some really cool pictures of the Aurora taken from space. You can see they circle the globe a bit like a blue green halo.
https://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=utf-8&fr=tightropetb&p=Pictures+of+the+aurora+from+space&type=42263_051617

 

[chm270]

The Sun has "cycles" and other unique properties.
Simply going far North is no guarantee you will see any.
If you check out spaceweather.com, they have LOTS of good info on the lights.
You can also get email alerts when there will be a possibility to see them.
I am near Lacrosse, WI and at this latitude, there are many to be seen when the Sun is "active".
It seems to be at a low lately.
Hate to see you go all that way to be disappointed.
I have seen them here in the past several times, but not for quite a while now.

 

[Number9]

Ps I have seen the Northern Lights in Calhoun, Ga.

I've seen them in East Tennessee too... but not in the sky. :roll:

 

[one bullet]

Thanks everyone!