Maine · ET

Can You See the Northern Lights in Maine Tonight?

NO (Bangor area). Not worth a special trip tonight. Aurora activity is not expected to reach Maine tonight.

NO

Not worth a special trip tonight.

Best window
Main issue
Aurora activity is not expected to reach Maine tonight.
Look toward
North
Confidence
High

Tonight’s hours (ET)

TimeReadingSky
1:45 AM–2:15 AM ETNOMixed
2:15 AM–2:45 AM ETNOMixed
2:45 AM–3:15 AM ETNOMixed
3:15 AM–3:45 AM ETNOMixed
3:45 AM–4:15 AM ETNOMixed
Rest of the night
Rest of tonight’s 30-minute readings
4:15 AM–4:45 AM ETNOMixed
4:45 AM–5:15 AM ETnot dark yet
5:15 AM–5:45 AM ETnot dark yet

Why this verdict

Aurora reach
Aurora activity is not expected to reach Maine tonight.
Clouds
Mixed
Darkness
Moon
City glow
Portland and the southern coast are the bright part of a generally dark state. Baxter, the North Woods, and Aroostook are among the darkest Wave 1 locations in the Lower 48.
Data live
Live reading, not a full local guide.

What to do

  • Leave Portland if you can. Interior and northern Maine beat the tourist coast. Acadia is darker than Boston but still coastal and south of the woods.
  • Face north.
  • Give your eyes 30–60 minutes in the dark.
  • A phone camera may pick up a faint display before your eyes do.

Other points in Maine

  • Presque IsleNO
  • PortlandNO

In this state

Southern Maine is New England event-tier. Aroostook and the North Woods are closer to a sub-oval site. A maybe in Presque Isle can still be no in Portland.

Nearby

Local FAQ

Is Acadia a good place?

Better than a city, and a north-facing coast helps, but it is not northern Maine. For a marginal night, the North Woods and Aroostook are the upgrade.

Portland tonight?

Portland is the worst in-state default. This page’s headline uses Bangor-latitude Maine, and calls Portland out when it differs.

Better than Massachusetts?

Yes. Darker, farther north, and less of a coastal megacity dome.

Plan a better aurora night