United States276 places
Northern Lights in Iowa, United States
In Iowa the aurora is visible from about Kp 5, first near Mason City. Rock Rapids has the darkest skies among the larger places.
| Place | Kp needed | Kp for photos | Look towards | Light pollution | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mason City | 5 | 3.3 | N | Bright suburban sky | 27,366 |
| Spencer | 5 | 3.3 | N | Bright suburban sky | 11,212 |
| Decorah | 5 | 3.3 | N | Suburban sky | 7,907 |
| Clear Lake | 5 | 3.3 | N | Suburban sky | 7,590 |
| Sioux Center | 5 | 3.3 | N | Bright suburban sky | 7,461 |
| Charles City | 5 | 3.3 | N | Bright suburban sky | 7,455 |
| Orange City | 5 | 3.3 | N | Suburban sky | 6,198 |
| Estherville | 5 | 3.3 | N | Bright suburban sky | 6,011 |
| Algona | 5 | 3.3 | N | Suburban sky | 5,470 |
| Sheldon | 5 | 3.3 | N | Bright suburban sky | 5,088 |
| Spirit Lake | 5 | 3.3 | N | Bright suburban sky | 5,018 |
| Forest City | 5 | 3.3 | N | Bright suburban sky | 4,018 |
| Cresco | 5 | 3.3 | N | Suburban sky | 3,833 |
| Emmetsburg | 5 | 3.3 | N | Suburban sky | 3,811 |
| Waukon | 5 | 3.3 | N | Suburban sky | 3,736 |
| Rock Valley | 5 | 3.3 | N | Suburban sky | 3,693 |
| Osage | 5 | 3.3 | N | Bright suburban sky | 3,654 |
| New Hampton | 5 | 3.3 | N | Suburban sky | 3,452 |
| Garner | 5 | 3.3 | N | Suburban sky | 3,107 |
| Milford | 5 | 3.3 | N | Suburban sky | 3,018 |
| Sibley | 5 | 3.3 | N | Suburban sky | 2,668 |
| Rock Rapids | 5 | 3.3 | N | Dark rural sky | 2,602 |
| West Union | 5 | 3.3 | N | Suburban sky | 2,409 |
| Northwood | 5 | 3.3 | N | Rural to suburban | 1,995 |
| Elkader | 5 | 3.3 | N | Rural to suburban | 1,213 |
| Cedar Rapids | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Bright suburban sky | 130,405 |
| Sioux City | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | City sky | 82,821 |
| Waterloo | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | City sky | 68,460 |
| Dubuque | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Bright suburban sky | 58,799 |
| Cedar Falls | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Bright suburban sky | 41,255 |
| Marion | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Bright suburban sky | 37,330 |
| Marshalltown | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Bright suburban sky | 27,620 |
| Fort Dodge | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Bright suburban sky | 24,649 |
| Storm Lake | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Suburban sky | 10,910 |
| Waverly | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Bright suburban sky | 10,066 |
| Le Mars | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Bright suburban sky | 9,761 |
| Webster City | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Suburban sky | 7,814 |
| Hiawatha | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Bright suburban sky | 7,199 |
| Oelwein | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Suburban sky | 6,153 |
| Independence | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Suburban sky | 6,028 |
| Maquoketa | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Suburban sky | 5,989 |
| Centerville | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Dark rural sky | 5,745 |
| Anamosa | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Suburban sky | 5,469 |
| Asbury | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Suburban sky | 5,291 |
| Iowa Falls | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Rural to suburban | 5,195 |
| Vinton | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Bright suburban sky | 5,148 |
| Manchester | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Bright suburban sky | 5,073 |
| Cherokee | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Bright suburban sky | 5,030 |
| Evansdale | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Suburban sky | 4,812 |
| Humboldt | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Suburban sky | 4,596 |
| Sergeant Bluff | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Bright suburban sky | 4,520 |
| Hampton | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Suburban sky | 4,290 |
| Dyersville | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Suburban sky | 4,204 |
| Monticello | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Suburban sky | 3,825 |
| Robins | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Rural to suburban | 3,454 |
| Story City | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Suburban sky | 3,438 |
| Eagle Grove | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Suburban sky | 3,419 |
| Clarion | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Suburban sky | 2,767 |
| Grundy Center | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Rural to suburban | 2,714 |
| Eldora | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Suburban sky | 2,702 |
| Sac City | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Rural to suburban | 2,144 |
| Rockwell City | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Rural to suburban | 2,141 |
| Ida Grove | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Suburban sky | 2,122 |
| Pocahontas | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Suburban sky | 1,740 |
| Allison | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Rural to suburban | 1,029 |
| Des Moines | 5.7 | 4 | N | City sky | 214,133 |
| Davenport | 5.7 | 4 | N | City sky | 102,582 |
| Iowa City | 5.7 | 4 | N | Bright suburban sky | 74,220 |
| Ames | 5.7 | 4 | N | Bright suburban sky | 65,060 |
| West Des Moines | 5.7 | 4 | N | City sky | 64,113 |
| Ankeny | 5.7 | 4 | N | Bright suburban sky | 56,764 |
| Urbandale | 5.7 | 4 | N | City sky | 44,062 |
| Bettendorf | 5.7 | 4 | N | Bright suburban sky | 35,505 |
| Clinton | 5.7 | 4 | N | Bright suburban sky | 26,064 |
| Muscatine | 5.7 | 4 | N | Bright suburban sky | 23,968 |
| Johnston | 5.7 | 4 | N | Bright suburban sky | 20,871 |
| Coralville | 5.7 | 4 | N | Bright suburban sky | 20,608 |
| Waukee | 5.7 | 4 | N | Suburban sky | 18,990 |
| Altoona | 5.7 | 4 | N | Bright suburban sky | 16,984 |
| North Liberty | 5.7 | 4 | N | Suburban sky | 15,931 |
| Clive | 5.7 | 4 | N | City sky | 15,447 |
| Newton | 5.7 | 4 | N | Bright suburban sky | 15,125 |
| Boone | 5.7 | 4 | N | Bright suburban sky | 12,692 |
| Grimes | 5.7 | 4 | N | Bright suburban sky | 10,676 |
| Norwalk | 5.7 | 4 | N | Suburban sky | 10,135 |
| Carroll | 5.7 | 4 | N | Suburban sky | 9,968 |
| Pleasant Hill | 5.7 | 4 | N | Suburban sky | 9,314 |
| Grinnell | 5.7 | 4 | N | Suburban sky | 9,141 |
| Denison | 5.7 | 4 | N | Bright suburban sky | 8,334 |
| Perry | 5.7 | 4 | N | Bright suburban sky | 8,089 |
| Nevada | 5.7 | 4 | N | Suburban sky | 6,831 |
| Eldridge | 5.7 | 4 | N | Suburban sky | 6,232 |
| DeWitt | 5.7 | 4 | N | Suburban sky | 5,242 |
| Harlan | 5.7 | 4 | N | Rural to suburban | 5,002 |
| Bondurant | 5.7 | 4 | N | Suburban sky | 4,996 |
| Windsor Heights | 5.7 | 4 | N | City sky | 4,889 |
| Mount Vernon | 5.7 | 4 | N | Rural to suburban | 4,486 |
| Camanche | 5.7 | 4 | N | Suburban sky | 4,341 |
| Polk City | 5.7 | 4 | N | Rural to suburban | 4,323 |
| Adel | 5.7 | 4 | N | Suburban sky | 4,245 |
| Jefferson | 5.7 | 4 | N | Suburban sky | 4,204 |
| Carlisle | 5.7 | 4 | N | Rural to suburban | 4,168 |
| Le Claire | 5.7 | 4 | N | Rural to suburban | 3,982 |
| West Liberty | 5.7 | 4 | N | Suburban sky | 3,728 |
| Huxley | 5.7 | 4 | N | Rural to suburban | 3,536 |
| Saylorville | 5.7 | 4 | N | Suburban sky | 3,301 |
| Tipton | 5.7 | 4 | N | Bright suburban sky | 3,200 |
| Williamsburg | 5.7 | 4 | N | Suburban sky | 3,195 |
| Onawa | 5.7 | 4 | N | Suburban sky | 2,881 |
| Marengo | 5.7 | 4 | N | Suburban sky | 2,513 |
| Toledo | 5.7 | 4 | N | Suburban sky | 2,202 |
| Audubon | 5.7 | 4 | N | Suburban sky | 2,017 |
| Guthrie Center | 5.7 | 4 | N | Rural to suburban | 1,513 |
| Logan | 5.7 | 4 | N | Rural to suburban | 1,465 |
| Montezuma | 5.7 | 4 | N | Rural to suburban | 1,411 |
| Council Bluffs | 6 | 4.3 | N | City sky | 62,597 |
| Burlington | 6 | 4.3 | N | Bright suburban sky | 25,410 |
| Ottumwa | 6 | 4.3 | N | Bright suburban sky | 24,624 |
| Indianola | 6 | 4.3 | N | Bright suburban sky | 15,467 |
| Oskaloosa | 6 | 4.3 | N | Suburban sky | 11,607 |
| Pella | 6 | 4.3 | N | Bright suburban sky | 10,363 |
| Fairfield | 6 | 4.3 | N | Bright suburban sky | 9,892 |
| Mount Pleasant | 6 | 4.3 | N | Bright suburban sky | 8,433 |
| Creston | 6 | 4.3 | N | Suburban sky | 7,854 |
| Washington | 6 | 4.3 | N | Suburban sky | 7,408 |
| Knoxville | 6 | 4.3 | N | Suburban sky | 7,248 |
| Atlantic | 6 | 4.3 | N | Bright suburban sky | 6,833 |
| Red Oak | 6 | 4.3 | N | Suburban sky | 5,472 |
| Glenwood | 6 | 4.3 | N | Suburban sky | 5,253 |
| Winterset | 6 | 4.3 | N | Bright suburban sky | 5,176 |
| Osceola | 6 | 4.3 | N | Suburban sky | 4,972 |
| Chariton | 6 | 4.3 | N | Rural to suburban | 4,214 |
| Albia | 6 | 4.3 | N | Suburban sky | 3,829 |
| Carter Lake | 6 | 4.3 | N | City sky | 3,791 |
| West Burlington | 6 | 4.3 | N | Bright suburban sky | 3,047 |
| Bloomfield | 6 | 4.3 | N | Suburban sky | 2,617 |
| Wapello | 6 | 4.3 | N | Rural to suburban | 2,041 |
| Sigourney | 6 | 4.3 | N | Suburban sky | 2,005 |
| Greenfield | 6 | 4.3 | N | Rural to suburban | 1,883 |
| Corydon | 6 | 4.3 | N | Rural to suburban | 1,589 |
| Corning | 6 | 4.3 | N | Rural to suburban | 1,537 |
| Fort Madison | 6.3 | 4.7 | N | Rural to suburban | 10,717 |
| Clarinda | 6.3 | 4.7 | N | Suburban sky | 5,418 |
| Leon | 6.3 | 4.7 | N | Suburban sky | 1,903 |
Best months in Iowa
Share of nights 2005–2025 that were dark, active enough here and mostly clear.
September has been the best month (5% of nights), followed by October (3%).
All years Near solar maximum Near solar minimum
- Kp 0–2 Quiet Only under the auroral oval: northern Norway, Swedish and Finnish Lapland, Iceland, Alaska, northern Canada.
- Kp 3 Unsettled camera in Mason City Bright in the Arctic; low on the horizon in central Scandinavia and southern Iceland.
- Kp 4 Active Overhead in the Arctic; low in the north from southern Norway, Sweden, Finland and northern Scotland.
- Kp 5 Minor storm (G1) eye in Mason City Scotland, southern Scandinavia, the Baltic states, the northern US states and southern Canada.
- Kp 6 Moderate storm (G2) Northern England, Denmark, northern Germany and Poland, the US Midwest — often clearer in photos than to the eye.
- Kp 7 Strong storm (G3) Most of the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Czechia; red glow in photos from France and the northern Alps.
- Kp 8 Severe storm (G4) Central Europe to the eye; red sky in photos from northern Italy, Spain, the Balkans and Turkey's Black Sea coast.
- Kp 9 Extreme storm (G5) Seen across Europe and the US; in photos as far south as the Mediterranean, Turkey and North Africa (May 2024).
The town pages in this region also cover 3,085 villages and districts nearby.
Smaller places
- AckleyKp 5.3
- AkronKp 5.3
- AltaKp 5.3
- AltonKp 5
- AplingtonKp 5.3
- Arnolds ParkKp 5
- AtkinsKp 5.7
- AvocaKp 6
- BaxterKp 5.7
- Belle PlaineKp 5.7
- BellevueKp 5.3
- BelmondKp 5
- Blue GrassKp 5.7
- BrittKp 5
- BrooklynKp 5.7
- BuffaloKp 5.7
- CascadeKp 5.3
- Center PointKp 5.3
- CentervilleKp 6
- Central CityKp 5.3
- ClarksvilleKp 5
- ColfaxKp 5.7
- Columbus JunctionKp 6
- ConradKp 5.3
- Coon RapidsKp 5.7
- Dallas CenterKp 5.7
- De SotoKp 5.7
- DenverKp 5.3
- DikeKp 5.3
- DurantKp 5.7
- DysartKp 5.3
- EarlhamKp 5.7
- EddyvilleKp 6
- Elk Run HeightsKp 5.3
- ElyKp 5.7
- EpworthKp 5.3
- FairbankKp 5.3
- FairfaxKp 5.7
- FarleyKp 5.3
- FayetteKp 5
- GeorgeKp 5
- GilbertKp 5.3
- GliddenKp 5.7
- GrangerKp 5.7
- GreeneKp 5
- GuttenbergKp 5
- HartleyKp 5
- HawardenKp 5
- HolsteinKp 5.3
- HudsonKp 5.3
- HullKp 5
- JesupKp 5.3
- Jewell JunctionKp 5.3
- KalonaKp 5.7
- KeokukKp 6.3
- KingsleyKp 5.3
- La Porte CityKp 5.3
- Lake CityKp 5.3
- Lake MillsKp 5
- Lake PanoramaKp 5.7
- Lake ParkKp 5
- Lake ViewKp 5.3
- LaurensKp 5.3
- LenoxKp 6
- LisbonKp 5.7
- Lone TreeKp 5.7
- MadridKp 5.7
- Maharishi Vedic CityKp 6
- MalvernKp 6
- ManlyKp 5
- ManningKp 5.7
- MansonKp 5.3
- MapletonKp 5.7
- MarcusKp 5.3
- MechanicsvilleKp 5.7
- MediapolisKp 6
- Melcher-DallasKp 6
- Missouri ValleyKp 6
- MitchellvilleKp 5.7
- MononaKp 5
- MonroeKp 5.7
- MovilleKp 5.3
- NashuaKp 5
- New LondonKp 6
- New SharonKp 5.7
- Nora SpringsKp 5
- North EnglishKp 5.7
- OaklandKp 6
- OaklandKp 5.3
- OgdenKp 5.7
- PaloKp 5.3
- PanoraKp 5.7
- Park ViewKp 5.7
- ParkersburgKp 5.3
- PaullinaKp 5
- PeostaKp 5.3
- PleasantvilleKp 6
- PostvilleKp 5
- Prairie CityKp 5.7
- PrestonKp 5.3
- ReinbeckKp 5.3
- RemsenKp 5.3
- RiversideKp 5.7
- RockwellKp 5
- RolandKp 5.3
- St. AnsgarKp 5
- SanbornKp 5
- SheffieldKp 5
- Shell RockKp 5.3
- SlaterKp 5.7
- SolonKp 5.7
- SpringvilleKp 5.3
- State CenterKp 5.7
- Strawberry PointKp 5.3
- StuartKp 5.7
- SumnerKp 5
- TamaKp 5.7
- TiffinKp 5.7
- TraerKp 5.3
- TripoliKp 5
- University HeightsKp 5.7
- UrbanaKp 5.3
- Van MeterKp 5.7
- VilliscaKp 6
- WalcottKp 5.7
- WalfordKp 5.7
- WellmanKp 5.7
- West BranchKp 5.7
- WiltonKp 5.7
- WinfieldKp 6
- WoodbineKp 5.7
- WoodwardKp 5.7