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Aurora tonight inSalt Lake City

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Northern lights guide

Seeing the northern lights from Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City sits at 47.5° magnetic latitude, well away from the auroral oval. Aurora reaches it during geomagnetic storms: about Kp 7.1 for a glow on the northern horizon, and Kp 9+ or more for a display overhead.

Kp needed
7.1
On the northern horizon. Overhead from about Kp 9+.
Look toward
N 9°
Facing north, toward the magnetic pole.
Best hours
10:50 PM–2:50 AM
Centered on magnetic midnight, 12:50 AM local time in December.
How often
A few times a year at most
Only strong storms push the oval this far. 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: 12.2 hours12JanFebruary: 11.3 hours11FebMarch: 10.2 hours10MarApril: 8.5 hours8AprMay: 7.2 hours7MayJune: 6.5 hours6JunJuly: 6.7 hours7JulAugust: 8.0 hours8AugSeptember: 9.7 hours10SepOctober: 11.0 hours11OctNovember: 12.0 hours12NovDecember: 12.7 hours13Dec

There is a dark sky every night of the year, so aurora season never closes in Salt Lake City. 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 on the horizon from Salt Lake City
  • Kp 7G3 strong storm: aurora not in view from Salt Lake City
  • Kp 5G1 minor storm: aurora not in view from Salt Lake City
  • Kp 3Unsettled: aurora not in view from Salt Lake City
  • Kp 1Quiet: aurora not in view from Salt Lake City

Questions about the aurora in Salt Lake City

Can you see the northern lights in Salt Lake City?

Sometimes, during geomagnetic storms. It takes about Kp 7.1 to see aurora low on the northern horizon from Salt Lake City, and cameras often pick it up before your eyes do.

What Kp index do you need to see the aurora in Salt Lake City?

About Kp 7.1 for aurora on the northern horizon and about Kp 9+ for aurora overhead. These come from Salt Lake City's magnetic latitude of 47.5°.

Which direction should I look for the aurora in Salt Lake City?

Face north (9°), 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 Salt Lake City?

Activity often peaks around magnetic midnight, which falls near 12:50 AM local time in Salt Lake City in December. The two hours either side are the best window.

When is aurora season in Salt Lake City?

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