Chicago · CT
Can You See the Northern Lights in Chicago Tonight?
NO. Not worth a special trip tonight. Aurora activity is not expected to reach Chicago tonight.
NO
Not worth a special trip tonight.
Tonight’s hours (CT)
| Time | Reading | Sky |
|---|---|---|
| 12:45 AM–1:15 AM CT | NO | Clear |
| 1:15 AM–1:45 AM CT | NO | Clear |
| 1:45 AM–2:15 AM CT | NO | Clear |
| 2:15 AM–2:45 AM CT | NO | Clear |
| 2:45 AM–3:15 AM CT | NO | Clear |
Rest of the night
| 3:15 AM–3:45 AM CT | NO | Clear |
|---|---|---|
| 3:45 AM–4:15 AM CT | NO | Clear |
| 4:15 AM–4:45 AM CT | NO | Clear |
| 4:45 AM–5:15 AM CT | NO | Clear |
| 5:15 AM–5:45 AM CT | not dark yet | — |
| 5:45 AM–6:15 AM CT | not dark yet | — |
Why this verdict
- Aurora reach
- Aurora activity is not expected to reach Chicago tonight.
- Clouds
- Clear
- Darkness
- —
- Moon
- —
- City glow
- Chicago is Bortle-class urban core. The lakefront looking north over Lake Michigan is slightly less obstructed than looking over the city, but skyglow is still severe.
- Data live
- Live reading, not a full local guide.
What to do
- Downtown, the Loop, and the inner neighborhoods are the wrong place to stand. If you go out anyway on a strong storm, get north into southern Wisconsin or at least far enough from the skyline that the northern horizon is not orange.
- Face north.
- Give your eyes 30–60 minutes in the dark.
- A phone camera may pick up a faint display before your eyes do.
Nearby
Local FAQ
Can I see the northern lights from downtown Chicago?
You might photograph a faint glow in an extreme storm. You should not plan a night around seeing it from the Loop or Navy Pier. Leave the city.
Is the lake enough?
A north-facing lakefront removes some ground lights in that direction. It does not remove Chicago’s dome. Treat it as slightly less bad, not good.
Should I go to Wisconsin or Indiana?
Wisconsin north of the metro is usually the better dark-sky direction. Indiana Dunes still sits under Chicago’s glow. Michigan is farther but magnetically better.
How is this different from the Illinois page?
This page is the city tonight: pollution, the lake, whether to leave town. Illinois covers Rockford, Galena, and the rest of the state.