Last chance to see the Northern Lights—for now
Northern Lights corona last night at 10:30 pm. Photo/Sævar Helgi Bragason
Tonight may offer one of the last chances to witness the aurora borealis this season, as a powerful geomagnetic storm currently surrounds the Earth.
A coronal mass ejection that erupted from the Sun three days ago is now bombarding Earth with a stream of energized solar wind. If conditions remain favorable, skywatchers could be treated to a breathtaking display of colorful, dynamic Northern Lights.
Astronomer Sævar Helgi Bragason—known to many as "Star-Sævar"—shared the news in a press release, encouraging everyone to keep an eye on the sky between 10:30 p.m. and shortly after midnight.
Astronomer Sævar Helgi Bragason, known as "Star-Sævar". mbl.is/Kristinn Magnússon
Darkness fading, Aurora season ending
While tonight may bring spectacular skies, the Northern Lights season in Iceland is drawing to a close. As Star-Sævar points out, the lengthening daylight means Iceland no longer experiences full darkness—an essential ingredient for spotting the auroras.
However, stargazers can still make the most of the opportunity. The website icelandatnight.is provides real-time space weather data and cloud cover maps to help locate clear skies. Fortunately, many parts of the country are currently enjoying ideal viewing conditions.
A season to remember—with more to come
Star-Sævar notes that the 2024–2025 aurora season has been a strong one, offering numerous vivid displays across Iceland. And the outlook is bright: while this may be the last major aurora for a while, solar activity is expected to peak in the coming years, increasing the likelihood of even more dazzling shows in future seasons.
“Tonight could be the grand finale for now,” he says. “But the best may still be ahead of us.”
