a strip of bright green light becoming red as it approaches a dark treeline against a dark blue background

People, Places, and Events

A Windy and Wonderful Icelandic Aurora Adventure

Sky & Telescope’s recent tour to Iceland explored all the island’s sights — and kept S&T’s record at a solid nine for nine for seeing auroras!

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

Celestial Objects to Observe

How to Photograph the Northern Lights

Follow these tips to help capture auroral displays.

Comet 67P

Solar System

Comets Have (Ultraviolet) Aurora, Too

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

Andoya Launch

Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson

Rocket Barrage to Study Northern Lights

A series of 11 sounding rocket flights from two remote locations in the Arctic circle will help unlock the secrets of the processes behind the Northern Lights.

Substorm graphic

Solar System

Chorus Waves Drive the Beat for Pulsating Northern Lights

Scientists have finally confirmed a decades-old theory on what causes the faint flickering seen in the Northern Lights toward dawn.

Explore the Night with Bob King

Giant Sunspots, Flares Presage Arrival of Solar Storm

Two big, naked-eye sunspot groups are putting on a splendid show this week. We're also in the crosshairs for a strong geomagnetic storm and possible auroras.

Northern Lights

Celestial News & Events

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.

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.