Auroral Zone
Definition
The band of latitudes where auroras are statistically most frequent — the auroral oval's average footprint.
In plain language
Plot decades of aurora sightings and a band emerges around 65–70° magnetic latitude — through Alaska, northern Canada, Iceland, and Lapland. Living or traveling in this band means auroras most clear, dark nights.
The science
The auroral zone is the climatological average of the oval's position at moderate activity, distinct from the instantaneous oval, which shifts with local time and geomagnetic conditions.
Why it matters for aurora viewing
Aurora tourism is built on this zone — destinations inside it (Fairbanks, Tromsø, Yellowknife) offer the best odds per night on Earth.
See this in action on tonight's data.