Right now is one of the best times to ever see an aurora.

That’s because both the frequency in which they occur and the geographic area where they can be viewed are temporarily expanded.

What is an aurora and how is one created? 

A steady, continuous flow of charged particles, called solar wind, normally streams from the sun. But sometimes, a bright flash of light, a solar flare or a cloud of solar material known as a coronal mass ejection (CME) can burst forth from the sun.

These solar storms, when directed at Earth, can create a major disturbance in Earth’s magnetic field in what's known as a geomagnetic storm.

(MORE: How a solar storm could drastically affect life on Earth)

These energetic particles from space collide with atoms and molecules in our atmosphere, resulting in an aurora: a vibrant display of light and color across our sky.

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They’re also known as the northern lights (aurora borealis) or southern lights (aurora australis).

The color of an aurora depends on the type of gas that is hit by those particles and where that gas is located in the atmosphere.

Why are auroras better right now?

The sun is constantly active, but it moves through an 11-year cycle of quiet periods, solar minimum, to more active ones, solar maximum.

In October 2024, we hit that solar maximum, meaning we’re still relatively near that phase of the cycle. That means more solar flares, more CMEs, more geomagnetic storms and therefore auroras visible at lower latitudes and more often.

But the current cycle is in the early stages of the declining phase — meaning now might be the best chance you'll get to see auroras before this once-in-11-year window closes.

(MORE: Why the equinox means more auroras)

During this current solar cycle, aurora sightings have been reported from latitudes previously considered impossible.

In May 2024, a storm reached reached G5 (extreme) intensity — the highest level on NOAA's geomagnetic storm scale — and the Kp index hit 9, the absolute maximum.

That aurora was visible across the entire continental U.S., as far south as Florida, Texas and Southern California.

Tips for aurora chasing

One of the most important parts of seeing an aurora is simply knowing when one will happen.

Even though auroras are more common right now, there’s no way to guarantee if you book a trip on a specific day that you’ll be able to see them. Just like weather on Earth, space weather is most accurate in shorter time frames, and forecasts farther out are expectations based on trends.

NOAA’s 30-minute aurora forecast can be used to accurately determine auroral location and intensity.

To track the full timeline of the possibility of an aurora, the app AuroraMe can help. It tracks confirmed CMEs, giving you a 15- to 72-hour warning to prepare, an impact countdown when it’s hours away and a local viewing window for when conditions peak right where you are.

(MORE: 'The aurora guy' follows his passion to chase the northern lights)

If you want to see one without traveling, having a resource to alert you if there’s an aurora visible in your area is your best bet.

Auroras are also most visible when skies are dark, so going somewhere with minimal light pollution will be a bonus.

While it's possible an aurora could appear somewhere it typically doesn’t right now, there are some locations where they are most common if you’re able to plan a trip.

For the northern lights, that’s Scandinavia, Iceland, Greenland and parts of Canada and Alaska in North America. For the southern lights, Tasmania, Australia and New Zealand are good picks.

Content writer Ada Wood enjoys exploring the stories that science and climate teach us about our natural world and how it influences the way we live in it.