Imagine looking up on a dark winter night to see rippling ribbons of green and purple light dancing across the sky. The Northern Lights, or aurora borealis, are nature’s ultimate sky show – an ethereal phenomenon that has captivated humans for millennia.

The northern lights are best seen between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time while at a high, north-facing vantage point away from light pollution, according to NOAA. Aurora borealis is best seen from late September into early April because of the longer nights, though the phenomenon can still be seen throughout the year depending on solar activity.