A Guide to Catching the Northern Lights from Wisconsin

An active aurora borealis hovers over downtown Juneau and the Mendenhall glacier on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016, in Juneau, Alaska. (AP Photo/Rashah McChesney)

By Christina Lorey

April 7, 2025

The aurora borealis, aka Northern Lights, is usually visible in Alaska, Canada, and Scandinavian countries like Greenland. But there’s good news: The show in the sky is expected to be especially active this summer, and Wisconsin is one of a dozen US states where you can see it.

✨ What are the Northern Lights?

The aurora borealis produces neon green waves in the night sky when electrons from space collide with atoms and molecules of the upper atmosphere of Earth, according to NASA. The result is similar to when electrons collide with neon gas to create bright lightbulbs.

✨ Why can we see them now?

The sun’s creation of powerful solar winds is on an 11-year cycle and the next peak in activity is this year, 2025. The winds push the “Lights” closer to the ground, where they’re easier to see.

✨ When’s the best time to look for them?

The best time to see the lights is when the sky is clear and dark. They are more visible closest to the equinox, or the longest days of sunlight in the year (like the summer solstice this Friday!)

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has an animated forecast (which you can see here!) of the lights’ movement and says the best time to see them is within an hour or two of midnight, usually between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time.

✨ Where can you see them?

Or, the better question: Where can’t you see them? You’ll want to get away from any city and, instead, head to a state park or small town.

MORE: Why Wisconsin’s Dark Skies are Disappearing (& How to Get Them Back!)

Author

Christina Lorey

Christina Lorey is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist and former UpNorthNews newsletter editor. She previously worked as a producer, reporter, and TV anchor for stations in Madison and Moline. When she’s not writing or asking questions, Christina volunteers with Girls on the Run, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, and several mental health organizations.

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CATEGORIES: NATURE

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