Tips & tricks

Start looking around 11:30pm There’s no point going out hunting too early, as they don’t usually appear until around midnight or later.

Use Capella as your guide

Make sure you’re facing in the right direction. NLC typically appear to the left or right of Capella, Auriga’s brightest star.

Be patient!

NLC displays are usually very slow to develop, so if you see nothing straight away, wait.

Don’t give up too soon!

If a display dies down don’t assume it’s over and go home. It might brighten again! Many displays fade away part way through before coming back. Look for NLC before dawn Some NLC displays don’t really turn on until before sunrise, so it’s worth keeping an eye on the sky.