Watch as Indiana night sky dazzles with beautiful aurora
Indiana residents were lucky to watch beautiful northern lights in several cities across the state.
The northern lights could return once again to skies over Indiana late Monday night, Dec. 8, nearly a month after colorful auroras dazzled not only the Hoosier State, but Florida, too.
Over the weekend, scientists with NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center caught a powerful coronal mass ejection (CME) expected to collide with Earth’s upper atmosphere sometime Monday.
Federal forecasters on Dec. 8 released an aurora forecast map that includes nearly a dozen U.S. states with chances to see the northern lights directly overhead. The southern-most viewing line slices just north of Indiana, but that doesn’t rule out Indiana’s chances.
Article continues after photo gallery.
A different forecast model by the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska paints a rosier outlook. It predicts the northern lights might be viewable low on the horizon as far south as Louisville.
Space weather, of course, is notoriously difficult to predict. Hoosiers might step outside late Monday night to find beautiful auroras of purple, pink and green, or they might gaze up and see diddly squat. Here’s what stargazing Hoosiers should know.
What states could see the auroras tonight, Dec. 8, 2025?
At least ten U.S. states have a chance to see the northern lights directly overhead on Monday, Dec. 8, according to NOAA’s aurora forecast map. They include:
- Alaska;
- Washington;
- Idaho;
- Montana;
- Wyoming;
- North Dakota;
- South Dakota;
- Minnesota;
- Wisconsin;
- Michigan.
When are the northern lights tonight, Dec. 8, 2025? What time?
Auroras could be visible in more states than those listed above, according to the University of Alaska at Fairbanks, Geophysical Institute website, which tracks the phenomenon.
Beginning at 10 p.m. ET, Monday, Dec. 8, until 1 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, the institute predicts high aurora activity will be seen in cities that include:
- Vancouver, British Columbia;
- Helena, Montana;
- Minneapolis, Minnesota;
- Toronto, Ontario;
- Montpelier, Vermont.
According to its map of aurora activity, the institute shows the northern lights could also appear low on the horizon on Dec. 8 as far south as Indianapolis, including cities in these other U.S. states:
- Iowa;
- Illinois;
- Indiana;
- Kentucky;
- Ohio;
- Pennsylvania;
- New York;
- Maine and across New England.
What’s Central Indiana’s weather forecast? Will auroras be visible?
Seeing the auroras as far south of Indianapolis, of course, depends on if the weather cooperates.
Skies Monday, Dec. 8, will be partly cloudy in Central Indiana, according to meteorologists with the National Weather Service in Indianapolis. The low is expected to be around 22 with light and variable winds around 5-7 mph, so be sure to wear warm clothing if you plan to stay outside for some late night sky watching.
Why is space weather hard to predict?
When a solar storm happens, it sends particles flowing from the sun that get caught up in Earth’s magnetic field, causing colorful auroras to form as they interact with molecules of atmospheric gases.
Experts have long struggled to accurately forecast exactly when and where the phenomenon will occur. Even the best predictions can only accurately be made a few days or even hours in advance.
Unlike terrestrial weather, scientists who forecast celestial events like the aurora rely on observations of the 93-million-miles-away sun to make their predictions.
When is the best time to see the northern lights?
If the weather is clear, the best auroras are usually visible within an hour or two of midnight, according to NOAA. The best way to see the northern lights is to get away from any cities and travel to dark locations free of light pollution.
The agency also maintains an aurora dashboard that should help skywatchers track the phenomenon.
Where to see auroras in Indiana
In an earlier interview with IndyStar, Dr. Aarran Shaw, who serves as director of Holcomb Observatory and teaches Physics and Astronomy at Butler University, said the further north in Indiana you travel, the better the odds you have of spotting auroras, and near Gary, close to Indiana Dunes State Park, is usually ideal for stargazing.
“I believe Beverly Shores, close to Gary, is an International Dark Sky location which would be a prime spot for viewing the Aurora,” Shaw said. “Similarly, I believe there is another dark sky location just northeast of South Bend, just across the Michigan border.
Need help finding stars, planets and constellations? Try these free astronomy apps
The following free astronomy apps can help you locate stars, planets, and constellations.
Indiana’s best places to stargaze
If possible, head to Beverly Shores, near Gary, which is an International Dark Sky location and therefore an excellent place for stargazing.
You can also travel to Kemil Beach at Indiana Dunes State Park and Dr. T.K. Lawless County Park in Michigan, which also are designated dark sky locations, according to DarkSky International.
John Tufts covers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Send him a news tip at JTufts@Gannett.com. Find him on BlueSky at JohnWritesStuff.
