Aurora viewing guides and a KP index probability calculator, built on the same reference science professional forecasters use.
AuroraTracker was built with a single purpose: help people plan a trip to see the northern lights. Whether you are choosing a destination or working out the best season to travel, our location guides give you the reference data you need: minimum KP index, geomagnetic latitude, typical dark-sky hours, seasonal cloud cover, and Bortle dark-sky class.
Aurora viewing depends on the intersection of solar activity, Earth's magnetic field, local weather, and sky darkness. Our KP probability calculator shows how those factors combine into a single viewing estimate, using an example KP reading to illustrate the method, so you know what to check once you have a live KP feed and local weather forecast for your travel dates.
AuroraTracker does not run a live space-weather feed. Each location profile is a curated reference built from published geomagnetic, astronomical, and geographic figures: minimum KP index needed for viewing, geomagnetic latitude, typical dark-sky hours, seasonal cloud cover, and Bortle dark-sky class. Anywhere a number on this site is illustrative rather than a current reading, it is labeled “Example.”
Our Min KP Index rating for each location and our plain-language KP level descriptions are based on the published NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center KP scale, the standard reference used by aurora forecasters worldwide. We do not pull a live feed from NOAA: for the current KP index, check SWPC directly before you travel.
swpc.noaa.govEach location's Avg Cloud Cover figure is a seasonal reference average, not a forecast for tonight. Clear, dark skies matter as much as geomagnetic activity: even a strong KP reading is invisible through solid cloud, so check a live local weather forecast before you travel.
Moon phase and illumination percentage are computed algorithmically from the lunar synodic cycle and weighted into the calculator's sky darkness factor. A dark sky free of moonlight is critical for observing fainter aurora displays.
Our viewing location database is hand-curated with GPS coordinates, Bortle dark sky classifications, viewing spot recommendations, and the nearest airport for each location. We do not publish accommodation guides or lodging recommendations.
Our KP probability calculator combines the same factors professional forecasters weigh, into a single illustrative percentage score for each location:
These factors are weighted and combined to produce a viewing probability from 0% (no chance) to 100% (ideal conditions). The calculator runs on a fixed example KP reading, not a live feed: for the current KP index, check NOAA SWPC directly before you travel.
Location guides on AuroraTracker are built from the structured reference data described above (minimum KP index, geomagnetic latitude, dark-sky hours, seasonal cloud cover, and Bortle class), not from staff opinion or promotional copy. We do not claim firsthand visits to every location on the site; ratings and descriptions are drawn from published geomagnetic, astronomical, and geographic sources.
We do not run affiliate links or sponsored placements on this site. Every viewing recommendation reflects the reference data described above, not a commercial relationship.
If you find inaccurate information on any page, please contact us and we will investigate and correct it promptly.