Can you see Northern Lights in Wyoming? Unobstructed and diluted by city lights, the Wyoming night sky is glorious. In fact, our lack of light pollution is what makes Wyoming a great place to view the Aurora Borealis.

Nature doesn’t put on a light show every night, but when it does, Cheyenne is a prime place to catch it. Many Northern Lights watchers steak out a quiet, dark spot away from the city and set up cameras to capture the dazzling display in time-lapsed sequence.

Any clear night is a good night for sky-gazing in Wyoming. Even when the Northern Lights aren't flashing, the view is breathtaking.
Jeremy Taylor/Flickr
Wyoming's location on the North American continent places it in one of the best spots to see the Aurora Borealis frequently.
NOAA National Weather Service Space Environment Center, Boulder, Colorado, USA/Wikipedia
The Aurora belt does fluctuate, based on what location over the Earth a geomagnetic storm is taking place. The Kp ratings on the belt tell you how visible the lights will be. The higher the number, the better show you'll get.
It's always fun to plan on watching the Northern Lights if you know ahead of time that they'll be visible, but it can be an amazing experience if you just happen to be in the right place at the right time and they take you by surprise. The sky will appear normal, then colors will start to glow on the horizon.
James Hammet Storm Chasing/YouTube
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration tracks and forecasts when the aurora will appear, and can give you as much as a 3-day alert that the Northern Lights could be visible in Wyoming.
The glow will intensify as the colors become more vibrant and climb higher in the sky.
James Hammet Storm Chasing/YouTube
At the peak of the show, the stunning colors defy description.
James Hammet Storm Chasing/YouTube

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Then, just when your heart is about to burst from witnessing such ethereal beauty, it begins to fade...
James Hammet Storm Chasing/YouTube
...retreating into the night sky just as suddenly as it came in.
James Hammet Storm Chasing/YouTube
You never know what colors you'll see in the aurora borealis in Wyoming, but the most common are green, pink, and yellow.
zhengxu/Flickr
The type of charged particles clashing about with the gasses in the atmosphere over the Earth determine what color the aurora will be. Particles colliding with oxygen, for example, create the typical yellow and green hues.
Blue is one of the more rare shades to see. Particles colliding with atomic nitrogen produce them...
AJ Batac/Flickr
...and nitrogen collisions can also result in brilliant, fiery red skies.
GFDL 1.2/Wikimedia
Altitude plays a part in the color scheme, too, and if solar flares are present, the lights will appear as a curtain of undulating color rather than a solid band.
Chalk it all up to one more reason to love living in Wyoming.
MtnWestGroup/YouTube

So if you find yourself asking, “Can you see the Northern Lights in Wyoming?” – now you know the answer. You can, and you should try! Where in Wyoming will you go to see the Northern Lights?

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Can You See Northern Lights in Wyoming?

Christy Articola | July 09, 2022

Where can I see the aurora borealis in other states?

That's a great question! There are lots of places in the continental United States where you can view the Northern Lights, but the farther north you go, the better! That's why many people travel to places like Iceland, Norway, Canada, and Alaska to view them, but you don't have to go that far. A lot of it is just luck, but you'll be most likely to see them if you go someplace very dark and away from city lights.

Are there other places where I can see the Northern Lights in Wyoming?

Really, anywhere in Wyoming is good, as long as you get away from lights! Cheyenne is a good choice because it's easy to get to, but people have reported seeing the Northern Lights all over the state when the conditions are right.

What else should I know about Cheyenne?

Cheyenne is a great starting point for a lot of things! You might enjoy this road trip which should only take you about one tank of gas to complete! 11 Amazing Places You Can Go On One Tank Of Gas In Wyoming

You also might enjoy eating at this diner that opened way back in 1942! This Timeless Wyoming Restaurant Only Gets Better With Age

Or, perhaps you'd like some tacos? The Beloved Hole-In-The-Wall That Serves The Arguably Best Tacos In All Of Wyoming

You also might be interested in attending Cheyenne Frontier Days sometime. However, it happens in July every year which is not when you'll see the Northern Lights. Still, this giant rodeo attracts 200,000 spectators each year! This Wyoming Town Is Home To One Of The Largest Rodeos In North America

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