Hang Spots to see the Northern Lights

[larsarus]

is there a "season" where the lights are most prominent?

Earth is closest to the sun when the northern hemisphere has winter. Closer distance means less chance for random particle showers from the sun to miss Earth. The next thing is the light conditions. Full moon means weak auroras will hardly be visible, and stronger auroras will look weaker. So given those factors, new moon periods from September/October to March/April will likely be best. And in my experience, activity seems to be highest 8-10/11 PM and then maybe come back again 2-3 AM (I am very seldom watching at those hours, but I've heard photographers getting great shows after I have given up and gone to bed). Those hours might be specific to my latitude (63.43˚), I don't know.

Then you have the conditions you have no control over - cloud coverage, and solar prominences. There is lots of monitoring info of solar prominences available, and you can find information about prominences facing Earth which will likely cause solar storms on Earth probably 3-5 days ahead of time, likely more. And that's about as far as I thrust "long-term" weather forecasts as well, so if you have to travel far to get far enough north to observe auroras, then you should monitor those situations and have your air-travel-approved grab-bag ready...

[bbikebbs]

I've seen them in the northernmost parts of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, so I'd think that either Cheboygan or Wilderness State Parks would work, as would anywhere in the UP.

We would see them all the time while I was at college (Michigan Tech) in Houghton, Michigan. That's in the UP for those who aren't Yoopers!

[OlTrailDog]

I've seen them a number of times in MT and NW WY. It has been a while, but I've typically lived in places with little to no "city lights". Also great for being in tune with the monthly moon phases. Common wisdom is that there will be a cold snap following the n-lights in a few days.

[Smilin]

I grew up in south east Alaska and it was very common to see the aurora borealis in the winter. I have also seen them in MT. but they didn't dance in the sky with the energy you would see in Alaska.

[OlTrailDog]

I grew up in south east Alaska and it was very common to see the aurora borealis in the winter. I have also seen them in MT. but they didn't dance in the sky with the energy you would see in Alaska.

More likely that is YOU dancing up and down to keep warm.