November 12, 2025 aurora

Astronomy & Observing News

Chance of Aurora Extends to Friday Night, June 5th

A geomagnetic storm expected June 4th arrived late. But there's still at chance of seeing auroras Friday night, June 5th.

Aurora reflections

Astronomy & Observing News

Major Flare Could Spark Severe Geomagnetic Storm Sunday Night, June 1st

Tips for viewing tonight's hoped-for aurora whether your skies are clear or smoky.

Astronomy & Observing News

41,000 Years Ago, Auroras Appeared Across the Globe

A weakened geomagnetic field left Earth almost defenseless against harmful cosmic radiation 41,000 years ago, but that didn’t stop humans from thriving.

eZIE

Astronomy & Observing News

EZIE Mission Launches to Study the Aurora

EZIE has launched successfully, poised to probe a poorly understood aspect linking space weather to dazzling aurora.

Aurora swirls

Astronomy & Observing News

North to the Aurora!

If the aurora won't come to you, go to it. The story of my quest to see the polar lights.

Auroral rays

Astronomy & Observing News

Second Chance: Solar Flare Might Spark Aurora Friday and Saturday Night

An updated forecast predicts observers across the northern and central U.S. may see the aurora two nights in a row — on Oct. 4th and 5th — in the wake of one of the Sun's most powerful flares this solar cycle.

Perseid aurora

Celestial News & Events

Tonight's Perseid Meteor Shower May Be Dipped in Aurora Sauce

The Perseids peak on Sunday night, August 11-12 and just might be joined by a colorful display of northern lights. 

Sheets of aurorae

Astronomy & Observing News

See Photos of the Widespread Aurorae Last Weekend

An extreme (G5) geomagnetic storm hit Earth last weekend, delighting viewers as far south as Florida with green and red curtains of light.

Aurora lights up a lake in the foreground with a horizon of trees with green towards the horizon and pink further up.

Astronomy & Observing News

Severe Geogmagnetic Storm Has Arrived! Auroral Blast Expected Friday Night

A severe geomagnetic storm has just hit Earth — which means we could see auroras tonight! Here's what you'll need to know.

The gegenschein in the left of center and Milky Way on the right with a dark horizon line in the foreground.

Astronomy & Observing News

Fuzzy Glows: See Zodiacal Light, Gegenschein, Airglow, and Aurorae

Find time this season to set aside your telescope and seek the night sky's ghostly glows.

Red aurora shines at the center to top with green aurora on the horizon line with dark trees and a snowy field at the bottom.

Explore the Night with Bob King

Aurora Season Is Underway

These are the nights to get ready for the auroras — and tonight may be your lucky night. Not only is the current solar cycle swiftly intensifying, March is one of the best times of the year to see the northern lights.

Green aurora above a lodge with lights on and dark trees on the horizon line.

Imaging Foundations with Richard Wright

How to Photograph the Northern Lights

Follow these tips to help capture auroral displays.

Comet 67P

Astronomy & Observing News

Comets Have (Ultraviolet) Aurora, Too

Observations from the European Space Agency’s Rosetta spacecraft show that Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko has its own aurora.

Northern Lights

Astronomy & Observing News

More Auroras Coming to Northern Skies

Keep your eye on the northern sky. Auroras are in the forecast for the next couple nights courtesy of a "hole" in the Sun's corona.

Coronal hole on October 13th

Astronomy & Observing News

Solar Forecasters Predict Chance of Auroras

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts a strong chance of geomagnetic activity tonight, October 13–14.

A donut shaped circle colored in green with red on its bottom right side, showing the aurora, over a night time map of the north pole, North America and Europe.

Auroras

Aurora at Your Fingertips

A survey of free services and apps that let you keep tabs on space weather so you can anticipate the next great aurora.

Green-striped night

Astronomy Blogs

Why We Can See In The Dark

In search of a pitch black night? Don't expect to find it on Earth. Thanks to starlight, zodiacal light, and especially airglow, true darkness doesn't exist.

Burst of light in the night

Astronomy & Observing News

How to Never Miss an Aurora

Learn exactly how and when to expect the next display of the northern lights with a few easy-to-use online tools.