In the Northern Hemisphere the best time of year for viewing the aurora is the period from September until March. In summertime the aurora cannot be seen because of the long daylight hours.

Typically, a display lasts a few minutes and occurs a few times per night. Auroral activity is usually highest during the hours near midnight. During a moderate to large auroral display, which can last up to three hours, the amount of energy released is roughly equivalent to that of a small nuclear explosion.