Search
Close this search box.
Search
Close this search box.
green northern lights in the night sky above the forest north shore

Northern Lights & Stargazing

Oh heavens! The night skies are filled with celestial phenomena –  stars, constellations, the Moon, the Milky Way, and the northern lights (aka aurora borealis). Want to see it all? The North Shore has very little light pollution, especially away from the shoreline communities, making for ideal night sky viewing.

The vast night skies are another free North Shore attraction, open every night, easy to access.

when to see the northern lights

Check below for the current northern lights forecast. Since these are storms, the forecast can change. Check back weekly as we update often.

North Shore Northern Lights

Seeing the northern lights is breathtaking, inspiring, awesome. Shafts of luminescent green light dance across the sky. Fans of pink glow for hours. Vibrant, pulsating white wands illuminate the night heavens. This is the aurora borealis.

And to be perfectly frank, what looks like the white glow of light pollution is also the northern lights. Less showy, but frequent because northern lights are a geomagnetic storm that occurs close to the earth’s poles. When the storm is big and the winds are right the storm can be seen here.

The bigger the storm, the bigger show. Aurora forecasts are just that, predictions. If there is a likely chance we post a notice (see northern lights forecast below). As with other storms, sometimes they pass quickly and sometimes they linger all night.

Northern Lights Viewing Tips

Look to the north sky, this generally means Lake Superior is over your right shoulder.

Get away from lights, a mere half mile inland does the trick.

The higher in elevation you are, the better your chances of seeing the lights, and getting an unobstructed view.

If you see a smear of white over the forest, you may be seeing the aurora. Watch and see if it moves.

I wish I could give you photography tips, but that eludes me. Which is lucky because then I watch and appreciate.

night sky over the mouth of the temperance river north shore mn
Stargazing and viewing tips

A more consistent evening display is the Milky Way. This massive spiraling star formation has a dense nucleus and thin surround disc. When we see the hazy band of light bending across the night sky, we are looking at the Milky Way.

Moonless nights are best for night sky viewing – we’ve listed those times below.

The Milky Way is brightest in the summer months and can be seen in the east/southeast sky. Binoculars will let you zoom in on the shimmering stars.

Northern Lights forecast

full moon

November Full Moon

November 15, 2024 12:00 am - November 15, 2024 11:59 pm

Full moons have many names derived from various cultures reflecting what was happening in the natural world. While the Frost Moon and Freezing Moon are self-explanatory, November's full moon is most known as the Beaver Moon. Beavers are quite active preparing for winter. Also known as the Mourning Moon, due to the increase in darkness.

full moon

December Full Moon

December 15, 2024 12:00 am - December 15, 2024 11:59 pm

Full moons have many names derived from various cultures reflecting what was happening in the natural world. December's full moon is known as the Cold Moon or Long Nights Moon. In addition to the shortest daylight day of the year, the Long Nights Moon pertains to the amount of time the moon is above the horizon. It takes a high trajectory across the sky because it is opposite to the low sun.

northern lights over the north of minnesota

Northern Lights October 10-11

October 10, 2024 7:00 pm - October 11, 2024 7:00 am

Northern Lights October 10-11: it's coming and it should be a BIG one. The storm will be going on from mid-morning Thursday, October 10 to midnight Friday, October 11. This is going to be a huge storm which means it will cover a large area and be more active/brilliant. Forecast: best chance of northern lights Thursday night 7-10pm, and they will continue to dawn. Keep an eye out right at dusk on Friday evening, too.

Best Times for Stargazing

meteor showers

Orionids Meteor Shower

October 20, 2024 11:45 pm - October 21, 2024 5:00 am

Like the Eta Aquarids, the Orionid meteor shower is a by-product of Halley's Comet. The Orionids are active from October 2 -November 10, with peak expected October 21-22, with clear-sky rates of about 20 meteors per hour. Watch for Orionid meteors on both the mornings of October 20 and 21, starting after midnight through the wee hours before dawn. The moon will be mostly full, but waning, and will interfere with spotting some meteors Orionids are named for their radiant near the constellation Orion, the hunter, which is one of the easier constellations to spot with the three stars that make up its "belt."

meteor showers

Taurids Meteor Shower

November 12, 2024 9:00 pm - November 13, 2024 5:00 am

The Taurid meteor shower is an annual meteor shower that occurs every November and is composed of two streams, the Southern Taurids and the Northern Taurids. The Taurids put on a rather modest show. At peak viewing times during the Taurid meteor shower, you may be able to see about a half-dozen shooting stars per hour. The Northern Taurids are active between Oct 20 - Dec 10 and peak on Nov. 12.

big dipper night sky autumn

Best Stargazing November

November 1, 2024 8:00 pm - November 1, 2024 11:45 pm

New moon nights – night when the moon is absent from the sky – make for great stargazing. Here’s a great way to start – look due north after the sun has set and find the Big Dipper constellation [see photo] with its telltale 3-star handle and 4-star dipper. In the autumn, the dipper is at ‘6-o’clock’ with the dipper facing up/handle to the left.

meteor showers

Leonids Meteor Shower

November 17, 2024 9:00 pm - November 18, 2024 4:00 am

The Leonid meteor shower offers clear-sky meteor rates of about 10 to 15 shooting stars per hour. They are active between Nov. 3 and Dec. 2 and will peak on Nov. 17-18. The Leonids are bright meteors and have a high percentage of persistent trains according to AMS. The Leonids' radiant is located in the sickle-shaped head of the constellation Leo, the lion. Leonid meteor hunting can be incredible, or a total bust. It all depends on where its parent body, Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, will be in its orbit and the kind of debris clumps that will be around when our planet passes through this comet's orbit.

meteor showers

Geminids Meteor Shower

December 13, 2024 10:00 pm - December 14, 2024 3:00 am

The Geminid meteor shower occurs between November 19 to December 24 and this year will peak on the nights of December 13 and 14.  The shower can produce 130 to 140 meteors per hour on a clear sky. However, an almost full moon will interefere with stargazing. The debris that falls onto Earth's atmosphere during this meteor shower comes from the asteroid Phaethon. The meteor shower's radiant is located in the constellation Gemini, which rises around sunset.  

meteor showers

Ursids Meteor Shower

December 21, 2024 10:00 pm - December 22, 2024 3:00 am

The Ursid meteor shower is active between Dec. 17-26 and this year will peak on Dec. 21-22. The moon will be slight over half full. The Ursids are associated with Comet 8P/Tuttle, a periodic comet that follows a 13.5-year elliptical orbit around the sun.

big dipper night sky autumn

Best Stargazing November – 2nd new moon of the month

November 30, 2024 8:00 pm - November 30, 2024 11:45 pm

New moon nights – night when the moon is absent from the sky – make for great stargazing. Here’s a great way to start – look due north after the sun has set and find the Big Dipper constellation [see photo] with its telltale 3-star handle and 4-star dipper. In the autumn, the dipper is at ‘6-o’clock’ with the dipper facing up/handle to the left.

big dipper night sky winter

Best Stargazing December

December 30, 2024 7:00 pm - December 30, 2024 7:00 pm

New moon nights – night when the moon is absent from the sky – make for great stargazing. Here’s a great way to start – look due north after the sun has set and find the Big Dipper constellation [see photo] with its telltale 3-star handle and 4-star dipper. In the winter, the dipper is at ‘3-o’clock’ with the handle hanging down.

family in horse drawn sleigh at gunflint lodge
family waterfall bucket list north shore mn

Check out these North Shore Favorites

aerial view of caribou highlands lodge and pool with Lake Superior in background
spiral waterslide and pool at americinn silver bay on the north shore
upcoming events
Taurids Meteor Shower
12 Nov 24
Silver Bay
Empty Bowls Fundraiser
14 Nov 24
Grand Marais
November Full Moon
15 Nov 24
Silver Bay
Full Moon Reading, November
15 Nov 24
Grand Marais
sparkling wintry lake superior and ice sheets stacked on north shore

Get North Shore travel tips delivered to your inbox