Gegenschein and Milky Way

Explore the Night with Bob King

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

Auroras

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.

Aurora over a lodge

Astrophotography: Tips & Techniques

How to Photograph the Northern Lights

Follow these tips to help capture auroral displays.

Extra-large Donut

Explore the Night with Bob King

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.

Burst of light in the night

Auroras

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.

Auroral curtains

Auroras

How to Get Aurora Predictions

Although forecasting an aurora remains an inexact science, here are several Web sites that go out on a limb and predict when an aurora might be imminent.

Blue Lagoon

Celestial Objects to Observe

Iceland: Fire, Ice, and the Aurora

Iceland is a destination with explosive geysers, majestic waterfalls, towering glaciers, steaming thermal baths — and magnificent northern lights.

Auroral curtain

Auroras

Satisfy Your Auroral Longing

If you don’t live in Alaska or Iceland, you can improve your chances of seeing an aurora — and maximize your amount of sleep — by monitoring the level of geomagnetic activity.

Aurora borealis over Iceland

Auroras

An Aurora Watcher's Guide

Want to see an aurora? In this introduction to auroral phenomena, an expert explains what to look for, when, and how.