Northern lights in Yellowknife

Canada. Darkness calculated 24 October 2026 with Astronomy Engine 2.1.19 (MIT licence).

The capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories, on the north shore of Great Slave Lake. The sky here is dark enough for the aurora from September to April.

A tent glowing orange under green northern lights and the Milky Way, in a snowy forest
Camping under the northern lights near Yellowknife, Canada. Photo: Steve FUNG, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Month by month

Pick a month for dark-hour times, Moon dates and what to expect.

Hours of darkness, month by month

Hours with the Sun more than 12° below the horizon, on the 15th of each month
MonthDark hoursAurora possible?
January13.8 hYes, if active and clear
February11.5 hYes, if active and clear
March8.8 hYes, if active and clear
April4.7 hYes, if active and clear
MaynoneNo: too light
JunenoneNo: too light
JulynoneNo: too light
August2.3 hOnly a short dark spell
September7.4 hYes, if active and clear
October10.7 hYes, if active and clear
November13.2 hYes, if active and clear
December14.4 hYes, if active and clear

The darkest weeks ahead

New Moons in the dark season. The week around each one has the least moonlight.

On the ground

Winter nights are very cold. Several operators run heated viewing cabins outside town.

Whatever the month, check two forecasts on the day: the aurora forecast from NOAA and the cloud forecast for where you are. How to read the aurora forecast.

Full checklist for choosing a tour.

Other places: Tromsø, Abisko, Rovaniemi, Reykjavík, Fairbanks, Inverness. Compare all seven.

Sources