Live Aurora Outlook
Northern Lights in Maine
Tonight's Live Forecast
Maine needs a Kp index of roughly 5+ for visible aurora. Below is tonight's answer, computed from the live Kp reading — updated hourly, explained calmly.
Can you see the northern lights in Maine tonight?
Unlikely in Maine tonight
The Kp index is currently 2, below the roughly Kp 5 that Maine needs for visible aurora. Watch for geomagnetic storm alerts — when Kp reaches 5+, tonight's answer changes.
Aurora in Maine
What Maine Needs for a Display
Maine has the best aurora odds in the eastern United States. Aroostook County — the big, empty crown of the state — sits on the Kp 5 view line, and the Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument is a certified International Dark Sky Sanctuary, one of the darkest places east of the Mississippi. A minor G1 storm that would be invisible from Boston can be a real display from the County.
Aroostook County is on NOAA's Kp 5 (G1 storm) view line — the best odds in New England. Aurora visibility depends on geomagnetic latitude — which differs from map latitude by up to 15 degrees — so these thresholds come from NOAA SWPC's storm-level view-line estimates, not simple map position. Treat them as odds, not guarantees: at the threshold Kp, expect a glow low on the northern horizon rather than overhead curtains.
Approximate Kp Needed by Location
Based on NOAA SWPC G-scale view-line estimates
Best Viewing Spots in Maine
When to Look
10 PM – 2 AM local time, centered on midnight. September through March offers the darkest skies. Avoid full-moon nights and city light domes — even 30 minutes of driving makes a real difference.
Don't Refresh This Page All Winter —
get a Kp alert instead
Aurora visibility in Maine is driven by the Kp index, so a Kp storm alert is effectively an aurora heads-up. The ResonanceOne app sends free push notifications when the Kp index reaches geomagnetic storm level (Kp 5+) — right at Maine's visibility threshold.
To be clear: ResonanceOne is not a dedicated aurora app — no aurora map, no location-based visibility forecast. It tracks the underlying signals (Kp index, solar flares, Schumann Resonance) in one calm Activity Index, and alerts you when they spike.
Common Questions
Northern Lights in Maine: FAQ
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