Best Places To Watch Northern Lights Under the Big Sky

Due to Montana being in the northern portion of the United States, it's a great place to witness the aurora borealis. If the skies are clear, the northern lights usually put on a specular show in Big Sky Country.

The Best Places to Watch the Northern Lights in Montana

The Northern Lights, also known as the aurora borealis, is a natural phenomenon that creates a dazzling display of colorful lights that dance across the night sky. The most common colors are green, pink, and purple. Seeing the aurora is truly awe-inspiring.

Montanans have been blessed with several opportunities to witness the aurora borealis, but weather conditions can make viewing difficult. You need to find a place that's really dark and away from artificial light. Luckily, it's not hard to find a place like that in Montana. If it's cloudy, you most likely won't be able to see anything.

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What Causes the Aurora Borealis?

Here is a video that explains the science behind the Aurora Borealis.

If you want to get the best view, you need to get as far away from city lights as you can. It needs to be as dark as possible. Places like Glacier National Park and the Hi-Line in Montana are great options due to the fact that there aren't any major cities nearby. Yellowstone National Park is a great option, but you need to pay an admission fee to enter the park.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center (NOAA) says the best times for viewing are between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m.