If you're unable to view the northern lights ... don't live far enough north for the aurora borealis or south enough for the aurora australis (also known as the southern lights).

Keep in mind that the northern lights may be visible for only a short time, so it's important to be ready to capture the moment when they appear. We can put this most simply: Find the darkest place ...

High-speed winds from a spot on the sun’s surface may affect Earth’s magnetic field, pulling the phenomenon further south.