If you’re in Alaska, northern Canada, Scandinavia, or Iceland, you’re in the prime zone—the auroral oval. But don’t despair if you’re in the contiguous U.S. or central Europe. A strong storm can push the lights as far south as New York, Berlin, or even London.
Tonight’s forecast matters more than your passport. Even if you’re in a city, drive just 20 minutes away from streetlights. Dark skies are non-negotiable: the aurora is like a whisper, and light pollution is the noisy party you need to escape.
Cultural note: the Finnish call auroras revontulet, or “fox fires,” believing Arctic foxes kicked sparks into the sky. The Norse thought they were reflections from the Valkyries’ armor. Both are cooler than “solar plasma.”
