Northern lights Kangerlussuaq tonight
Kangerlussuaq sits at 73°N magnetic latitude with the clearest skies of any settled location in Greenland. Kp 1 is sufficient from the fjord shore or tundra. The Greenland Ice Sheet is accessible 25 km to the east - aurora above the icecap on a clear night is the standout experience. Best season: September to April.
Aurora visibility - Kangerlussuaq
Possible tonight
Kp 1 is at the threshold for Kangerlussuaq. Aurora may be visible from a dark site if cloud cover permits.
Current Kp
1
of 9
7-day outlook for Kangerlussuaq
Today
19 May
Tomorrow
20 May
Thu
21 May
Fri
22 May
Sat
23 May
Sun
24 May
Mon
25 May
Based on CME arrival predictions from NASA DONKI. Arrival times ±6 hours.
What Kp is needed here?
Kangerlussuaq sits at a magnetic latitude of approximately 73°N. The Kp index - a global measure of geomagnetic activity on a scale from 0 (quiet) to 9 (extreme storm), updated every 3 hours - needs to reach Kp 1 before the auroral oval expands far enough south to be visible from here.
At Kp 1, visibility is possible from Kangerlussuaq but skies need to be clear and dark. Cloud cover and light pollution remain the main obstacles even when Kp is high enough.
Best dark sky sites near Kangerlussuaq
Light pollution is the biggest obstacle after cloud cover. These sites give you the best dark northern horizon within reach.
Kangerlussuaq fjord shore
Get directions ↗The 60 km fjord shore gives immediate dark sky access. The flat tundra banks face north across dark water with no opposing settlement. Musk ox are regularly seen on the tundra verges - a reminder that this is one of the last wildernesses in the Northern Hemisphere. The settlement generates minimal light and turning away from it places you in complete darkness within 5 minutes. Walking east along the shore increases the distance from the settlement lights.
Sugar Loaf mountain
Get directions ↗A prominent hill above the settlement with a hiking trail marked in summer. In winter the route requires snowshoes or crampons. The summit at 450 m gives a 360° view of the tundra plateau and fjord system. No other settlements visible in any direction. The sky to the north and east opens across uninhabited tundra to the icecap margin. One of the best elevated positions anywhere on Greenland's west coast for clear winter nights.
Point 660 icecap margin
Get directions ↗The edge of the Greenland icecap is reachable in a 25 km drive east of the settlement. Day tours and snowmobile trips to Point 660 are available in winter. At the icecap margin, the flat white expanse extends to the horizon - a completely featureless and utterly dark landscape. Aurora reflected on snow-covered ice on a clear night is unlike any other aurora environment. The settlement operates guided tours specifically for this experience.
Best time to see the northern lights in Kangerlussuaq
At 73°N magnetic latitude, Kangerlussuaq has one of the longest aurora seasons in the world. Meaningful darkness returns in late August and displays are possible on almost any clear night from September through March. Only the endless daylight of May, June, and July rules out viewing completely.
Activity peaks around the September and March equinoxes, when Earth's magnetic field geometry is most favourable for coupling with the solar wind. Events during these two windows tend to produce the strongest displays of the year for observers at Kangerlussuaq's latitude.
May through July is effectively impossible for aurora viewing: the midnight sun keeps the sky bright around the clock at this latitude. No storm level, not even G5, can produce a visible display without astronomical darkness.
Related pages
Northern Lights Greenland
Greenland aurora hub - all locations.
Northern Lights Nuuk Tonight
Nuuk - capital city, Nuup Kangerlua fjord.
Northern Lights Ilulissat Tonight
Ilulissat Icefjord - icebergs and aurora at 72°N.
Northern Lights Alta Tonight
Alta - northern Norway at comparable latitude.
What Is the Kp Index?
How Kp 1 triggers aurora inside the auroral oval.
Common questions
Northern lights from Kangerlussuaq and the Greenland icecap margin.
