Maine · Bangor area · ET
Can You See the Northern Lights in Maine Tonight?
MAYBE in Maine (Bangor area). Best window 10:45 PM–5:45 AM EDT. Main issue: Any display would likely stay low on the northern horizon.
Maine · Bangor area
MAYBE
Not a definite show. Worth a look if you can get a dark north sky.
Tonight’s hours (ET)
| Period | Reading | Sky |
|---|---|---|
| 5:45 PM–6:15 PM ET | not dark yetnot dark yet | — |
| 6:15 PM–6:45 PM ET | not dark yetnot dark yet | — |
| 6:45 PM–7:15 PM ET | not dark yetnot dark yet | — |
| 7:15 PM–7:45 PM ET | NOAurora activity is not expected to reach Maine tonight. | Clear |
| 7:45 PM–8:15 PM ET | NOAurora activity is not expected to reach Maine tonight. | Clear |
Rest of the night
| 8:15 PM–8:45 PM ET | NOAurora activity is not expected to reach Maine tonight. | Clear |
|---|---|---|
| 8:45 PM–9:15 PM ET | NOAurora activity is not expected to reach Maine tonight. | Clear |
| 9:15 PM–9:45 PM ET | NOAurora activity is not expected to reach Maine tonight. | Clear |
| 9:45 PM–10:15 PM ET | NOAurora activity is not expected to reach Maine tonight. | Clear |
| 10:15 PM–10:45 PM ET | NOAurora activity is not expected to reach Maine tonight. | Clear |
| 10:45 PM–11:15 PM ET | MAYBEAny display would likely stay low on the northern horizon. | Clear |
| 11:15 PM–11:45 PM ET | MAYBEAny display would likely stay low on the northern horizon. | Clear |
| 11:45 PM–12:15 AM ET | MAYBEAny display would likely stay low on the northern horizon. | Clear |
| 12:15 AM–12:45 AM ET | MAYBEAny display would likely stay low on the northern horizon. | Clear |
| 12:45 AM–1:15 AM ET | MAYBEAny display would likely stay low on the northern horizon. | Clear |
| 1:15 AM–1:45 AM ET | MAYBEAny display would likely stay low on the northern horizon. | Clear |
| 1:45 AM–2:15 AM ET | MAYBEAny display would likely stay low on the northern horizon. | Clear |
| 2:15 AM–2:45 AM ET | MAYBEAny display would likely stay low on the northern horizon. | Clear |
| 2:45 AM–3:15 AM ET | MAYBEAny display would likely stay low on the northern horizon. | Clear |
| 3:15 AM–3:45 AM ET | MAYBEAny display would likely stay low on the northern horizon. | Clear |
| 3:45 AM–4:15 AM ET | MAYBEAny display would likely stay low on the northern horizon. | Mixed |
| 4:15 AM–4:45 AM ET | MAYBEAny display would likely stay low on the northern horizon. | Clear |
| 4:45 AM–5:15 AM ET | MAYBEAny display would likely stay low on the northern horizon. | Clear |
| 5:15 AM–5:45 AM ET | MAYBEAny display would likely stay low on the northern horizon. | Clear |
| 5:45 AM–6:15 AM ET | not dark yetnot dark yet | — |
| 6:15 AM–6:45 AM ET | not dark yetnot dark yet | — |
Why this verdict
- Aurora reach
- Aurora activity is not expected to reach Maine tonight.
- Clouds
- Clouds are the main uncertainty.
- 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
- Later hours rely on a coarser forecast, not the live oval.
Northern Lights Maine tonight
The headline point is Bangor at magnetic latitude 54.1. Maine sits in the sub oval band. Horizon aurora typically needs about Kp 5. Overhead color typically needs about Kp 7. Look north.
Summer twilight in Maine is shorter than in Alaska, so a strong storm can still be usable if the sky is dark enough and clear.
Light, weather, and Maine
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.
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.
Coastal fog and marine cloud; summer twilight in the far north; long winter drives; trees blocking horizon in the woods (you still need a north opening).
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.
One of the better Lower 48 states on a moderate storm. August–April; September and March are popular because nights are long enough without the worst winter weather.
Sample points for Northern Lights Maine
- Presque Isle · dark sky · mag 56.0
- Bangor · verdict north · mag 54.1
- Portland · population · mag 53.0
The shared darkness, aurora-reach, cloud, glow, moon, freshness, and status gates are documented in how we decide. This page applies them to Bangor and keeps the local facts above.
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.
Other points in Maine
- Presque IsleMAYBE
- PortlandMAYBE
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.