The Sun is on the way up to the maximum of its 11-year activity cycle, and the signs have been getting more frequent in the past several months. This has rekindled interest in auroras and led people to wonder when the we'll get next display of northern lights. Unfortunately, auroras are largely unpredictable. Although the Sun and Earth's geomagnetic environment are well monitored by satellites, and government agencies issue warnings with a day or two's notice, there's still no guarantee that the sky will be set aglow during any given disturbance. Astronomers will know that a surge of charged particles is heading toward Earth, but they won't know if it will actually affect the upper atmosphere, nor know what the visible result will be.
Auroras tend to be witnessed when people just happen to be watching the sky by chance.
Viewers in Europe could serve as sentries for observers in the United States, where darkness comes several hours later. If you want to boost your chances of seeing an aurora during the coming solar maximum and aren't willing to relocate under the aurora-rich skies of Alaska or northern Canada, the best way is to keep yourself informed by checking the geomagnetic forecast. The Space Weather Bureau at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center offers an inviting layout of geomagnetic news and links. Here is a central site to find out what the Sun is spewing our way. You'll find daily reports of solar and geomagnetic activity, including the probability of solar flares.