Unlikely
Best chance in Maine: Bangor
Free push alerts built on NOAA space weather data, plus the 72-hour forecast, cloud cover and darkness window for Bangor.
Northern lights in Maine are possible but uncommon: they need a Kp of 6 or more to reach this far south. AuroraMe tracks 7 locations across Maine; 5 of them need only Kp 6, led by Caribou.
Cities Covered
7
Monitoring locations across Maine
Magnetic Latitude Range
53.0°–56.2° MLAT
Prime aurora viewing latitudes
Required Kp Index
Kp 6.0–7.0
Minimum activity for visibility
Kp Requirements by Location
Bangor
54.1° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 6.0+ Horizon
Kp 7.0+ Optimal
Kp 8.0+ Bright
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Caribou
56.2° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 6.0+ Horizon
Kp 7.0+ Optimal
Kp 8.0+ Bright
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Presque Isle
56.0° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 6.0+ Horizon
Kp 7.0+ Optimal
Kp 8.0+ Bright
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Millinocket
55.0° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 6.0+ Horizon
Kp 7.0+ Optimal
Kp 8.0+ Bright
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Rangeley
54.3° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 6.0+ Horizon
Kp 7.0+ Optimal
Kp 8.0+ Bright
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Bar Harbor
53.7° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 7.0+ Horizon
Kp 8.0+ Optimal
Kp 9.0+ Bright
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Best Dark Sky Viewing Locations
Interactive map showing dark sky preserves and Bortle class sites in Maine. Click markers for details and directions.
Bortle 3
Acadia National Park
Coastal dark sky viewing
160mi from portland280mi from boston
Route 3 to Mount Desert Island
Bortle 2
Baxter State Park
Maine's darkest skies around Mt. Katahdin
240mi from portland85mi from bangor
Millinocket entrance, seasonal
Aurora Status by City
Bangor
Moderate aurora potential at 54.1° magnetic latitude. Northern lights appear during stronger storms when KP reaches 5+. Best chances in winter months.
CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
View
Caribou
Favorable position at 56.2° magnetic latitude for aurora watching. Geomagnetic storms bring vivid displays, and dark skies with clear weather maximize visibility.
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
Presque Isle
Favorable position at 56.0° magnetic latitude for aurora watching. Geomagnetic storms bring vivid displays, and dark skies with clear weather maximize visibility.
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
Millinocket
Favorable position at 55.0° magnetic latitude for aurora watching. Geomagnetic storms bring vivid displays, and dark skies with clear weather maximize visibility.
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
Rangeley
Favorable position at 54.3° magnetic latitude for aurora watching. Geomagnetic storms bring vivid displays, and dark skies with clear weather maximize visibility.
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
Bar Harbor
Moderate position at 53.7° magnetic latitude. Geomagnetic storms can push the auroral oval far enough south to show aurora low on the northern horizon here.
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
Portland
Moderate position at 53.0° magnetic latitude. Geomagnetic storms can push the auroral oval far enough south to show aurora low on the northern horizon here.
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
Best Viewing Season in Maine
Rangeley averages 2.2 clear nights a year with Kp at its threshold — aurora here is an event, not a season. Figures below are for Rangeley, the best-placed of the 7 locations we track in Maine. They describe a typical year built from the 1996-2026 planetary Kp record and the 2001-2020 cloud normal — not a forecast. Each city page shows tonight's live cloud, moon and darkness instead.
Geographic Advantages
Magnetic Latitude 53.0°–56.2° MLAT
Cities Covered 7 locations
Winter Darkness 11.7 h in December
Dark Sky Sites 2 Bortle 1-3
Peak Aurora Months
Primary Peak September — 0.39 clear nights
Secondary Peak October — 0.32 clear nights
Third Best November — 0.31 clear nights
Clear Nights a Year 2.2 a year
Kp Needed Kp 6-7
Track with AuroraMe
Coverage All 7 cities
Advance Notice 30 minutes
Weather Integration Cloud cover
Predictions Best viewing times
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you see the northern lights in Maine?
Yes, Maine offers aurora viewing opportunities. Cities like Caribou (MLAT 56.2°) can see aurora at Kp 6.0+, while southern locations need Kp 7.0+. Best viewing is September–April during dark, clear nights.
Where are the darkest skies in Maine?
The darkest locations include Acadia National Park and Baxter State Park with Bortle class 2–3. These sites offer minimal light pollution for optimal aurora photography.
