Northern lights in Missouri tonight

The Current and Jacks Fork rivers run through the Ozarks in one of the least-developed federal land areas in the eastern USA, giving Bortle 2 conditions over a large forested area. The ridges above the river valleys face north with minimal light domes. Alley Spring near Eminence and the Pulltite campground give access to the darkest part of the corridor. At 37.1°N geographic, the Ozark core sits at around 46° geomagnetic latitude - a touch lower than the latitude of Kansas City and St Louis, but significantly darker. About 140 miles from Kansas City and 130 miles from St Louis via I-44 and US-60. Even with this sky, a major storm of Kp 6 is needed, seen as a glow low on the northern horizon.

The Eleven Point National Scenic River in the southern Ozarks gives Bortle 2 sky in the forest interior. The Greer Crossing and Thomasville areas provide river access and north-facing ridge positions above the river valley. The surrounding Mark Twain NF gives extensive dark sky over a large area of the Missouri Ozarks. Remote but accessible by car from Poplar Bluff or West Plains. About 160 miles from Kansas City.

North-central Missouri near Laclede gives open farmland with Bortle 3-4 conditions. At 39.9°N geographic, northern Missouri sits at the state's highest geomagnetic latitude, around 49° - a marginally better position than the Ozark core, which compensates for the lighter sky. The flat to rolling terrain gives open northern horizons with no mountain obstruction. About 90 miles from Kansas City via US-36. Practical for an aurora chase from the KC metro when a strong storm is forecast.

The St Francois Mountains in southeast Missouri - some of the oldest exposed rock in the Midwest - give forested ridge country with Bortle 2-3 conditions. The Mudlick Mountain area and the surrounding Iron County forest give ridge-top positions with north-facing sky. About 140 miles from St Louis via US-67. The least-visited of Missouri's dark sky sites, but genuinely dark and within range of St Louis.