Where are the best places to see the Aurora Borealis?
A travel writer with a physics background rounds up six top spots beneath the Auroral Oval—Fairbanks, Whitehorse, Lofoten, Svalbard, Akureyri and Abisko—rating each for a distinct angle, from Svalbard's rare daytime aurora sightings to Abisko's reliably clear skies at its chairlift-accessed Sky Station. It also explains the science of why the equinoxes (around March 20 and September 22) offer the best viewing odds due to optimal alignment between solar and terrestrial magnetic fields. Worth keeping as a practical shortlist for planning an aurora trip, pairing each destination with complementary activities like hot springs, dog sledding, whale watching and glacier hikes.