Northern lights in Kentucky tonight

A narrow 68 km peninsula between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley in western Kentucky and Tennessee. The area has no resident population and gives Bortle 3 conditions with open water horizons to both east and west. The north end of the peninsula at Golden Pond faces across Kentucky Lake toward Illinois with minimal light pollution. About 200 miles from Louisville via the Pennyrile Parkway. The lake environment gives a wide northern sky view without the tree canopy obstruction common in eastern Kentucky. One of the best dark sky positions in the state.

In central Kentucky, Mammoth Cave NP gives Bortle 3-4 conditions in a relatively dark rural area south of Elizabethtown. The north-facing karst plateau above the cave system gives open sky. The park's night sky programme has been active for several years. About 90 miles from Louisville or 110 miles from Lexington. The Parkway approaching the park from the north along KY-31E gives the darkest roadside sky in central Kentucky.

In eastern Kentucky, Red River Gorge sits in a deep sandstone canyon system in the Daniel Boone National Forest. The surrounding ridgetops give Bortle 3-4 conditions. The north-facing canyon rims give open northern sky access. About 60 miles from Lexington. The Mountain Parkway gives access. The eastern Kentucky mountains sit slightly farther north than Louisville, at 37.8°N geographic latitude, which helps marginally. Red River Gorge is popular with hikers and climbers and has established camping areas.