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Aurora tonight inMissoula

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Northern lights guide

Seeing the northern lights from Missoula

Missoula sits at 53.3° magnetic latitude, just south of the usual auroral oval. A Kp of about 4.2 brings aurora into view low on the northern horizon, and about 6.5 puts it overhead.

Kp needed
4.2
On the northern horizon. Overhead from about Kp 6.5.
Look toward
N 10°
Facing north, toward the magnetic pole.
Best hours
11:05 PM–3:05 AM
Centered on magnetic midnight, 1:05 AM local time in December.
How often
Several nights a month in active years
It takes an unsettled or active night, which is common near solar maximum. A rough guide.

Dark hours by month

Hours each night with the sun at least 12° below the horizon, on the 15th of each month.

January: 12.5 hours12JanFebruary: 11.3 hours11FebMarch: 9.8 hours10MarApril: 8.0 hours8AprMay: 6.2 hours6MayJune: 5.0 hours5JunJuly: 5.7 hours6JulAugust: 7.3 hours7AugSeptember: 9.3 hours9SepOctober: 11.0 hours11OctNovember: 12.3 hours12NovDecember: 13.0 hours13Dec

There is a dark sky every night of the year, so aurora season never closes in Missoula. Geomagnetic activity also tends to run higher around the March and September equinoxes.

What each storm level means here

The higher the Kp index, the farther the oval spreads toward the equator.

  • Kp 9G5 extreme storm: aurora overhead from Missoula
  • Kp 7G3 strong storm: aurora overhead from Missoula
  • Kp 5G1 minor storm: aurora on the horizon from Missoula
  • Kp 3Unsettled: aurora not in view from Missoula
  • Kp 1Quiet: aurora not in view from Missoula

Questions about the aurora in Missoula

Can you see the northern lights in Missoula?

Yes, on active nights. You need a Kp of about 4.2 for aurora on the northern horizon and clear, dark skies away from city lights.

What Kp index do you need to see the aurora in Missoula?

About Kp 4.2 for aurora on the northern horizon and about Kp 6.5 for aurora overhead. These come from Missoula's magnetic latitude of 53.3°.

Which direction should I look for the aurora in Missoula?

Face north (10°), toward the magnetic pole. That is where the aurora rises first. In a strong storm it can spread across the whole sky.

What time of night is best for the aurora in Missoula?

Activity often peaks around magnetic midnight, which falls near 1:05 AM local time in Missoula in December. The two hours either side are the best window.

When is aurora season in Missoula?

There is a dark sky every night of the year, so aurora season never closes in Missoula. Geomagnetic activity also tends to run higher around the March and September equinoxes.