The Northern Lights Might be Visible From Indiana This Year

Fun fact: the sun is constantly abuzz with activity of all sorts, and every 11 years, we here on Earth get to witness what's called the solar maximum. During this time, the 11-year solar cycle peaks, and the North and South poles essentially "switch" places - and something incredibly magical happens. The Aurora borealis, otherwise known as the Northern Lights, becomes visible significantly further south than usual - and this year, Indiana might just be in for the show of a lifetime. It's almost time for Northern Lights 2024 in Indiana: get all the details!

It's worth mentioning first and foremost that lights seen in Indiana won't likely be as dramatic as the ones visible in, say, Norway, but part of the aurora's mystique is its ever-changing, ever-shifting face.

In 2024, the sun will reach its 11-year maximum, enhancing aurora chances for places much further south than usual. Officially, the "lowest visible" point of the aurora will reach as low as the 40th parallel, which, lucky for us, cuts right through Indianapolis.

Therefore, anywhere north of Indy is fair game for Northern Lights action - just find a nice, dark sky, and look north.

We've already been blessed with incredible Northern Lights shows earlier this year. Parts of the country were able to see this bucket list sight from much further south than ever before--like northern Mississippi!

Auroras can be tough to time, so keeping an eye on social media and news outlets is helpful for determining the best time to go out. As a rule of thumb, though, the best viewing is between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., local time, intensifying after 11 p.m. when they're there.

There are several Aurora apps that are free to download, and I'd recommend downloading one if the conditions are right. I use an app called My Aurora, which gives you up-to-date weather conditions, a forecast by the hour, and a map you can pull up to show where the Northern Lights have been spotted across the globe. This isn't sponsored; I genuinely like and use this app whenever I'm in an Aurora range.

Luckily for us, Indiana's nice and mostly rural, making it pretty easy to seek out dark-sky destinations for this incredibly special space-weather event.

Some of my recommendations for awesome spots include places like Beverly Shores and Indiana Dunes National Park. Campgrounds are also excellent ideas - just make sure you're north of Indy.

The further north, the better - and the more brilliant.

Another incredibly helpful resource is the Space Weather Prediction Center, which offers an awesome 30-minute forecast EVERY 30 minutes, so you have the most up-to-date data.

Once you've settled on your preferred dark sky, here are a few tips to see the Northern Lights:

• Use a camera to scan the sky. Our cameras (both professional and phone cameras) can see a greater spectrum of light than we can. If you see a dull grey/white wispy cloud, that's them! Aim your camera at it and it should pop through your viewfinder.
• Use a tripod. Regardless of what camera you use, you'll need a longer shutter speed to capture the moment. If you don't have a tripod, prop your camera/phone on something to keep it steady while it's taking the photo.
• Find clear skies. Clouds will be your biggest enemy. There could be a vibrant aurora happening in the sky, but if it's cloudy, it's going to block your view. Watch where the clouds are moving and try to drive away from them.

If you're south of Indy, don't fret - you might still be able to see something, especially if you're far away from city lights and/or you have a camera capable of shooting long exposures. Sometimes, the northern lights are visible as far south as northern Arizona to a camera's eye.

As for the big when, the solar max will max out, so to speak, in the fall - but leading up to that, keep your eye on the space weather and stay alert. Hopefully, there will be many chances to see the lights this winter.

Need more dark sky ideas? Check out Tippecanoe River State Park. Need a place to stay while you're here chasing auroras? No worries - our friends at Booking.com have an amazing array of choices! Have you ever seen the aurora borealis? Share this article with someone you'd want to go on a Northern Lights hunt with.