Aurora Borealis( Northern Lights) help..

Reubo · 22 September 2006 at 5:26PM

Hello All,
My wife and I are wanting to go to see the Northern Lights on a short visit to Sweden or Norway for a few days. Does anyone have any recommendations as to when the best time to go is? , where the best place to fly to is? airline? etc, etc.
I have gone into a couple of travel agents and was told it is one we will have to do some research into as we dont get asked for this sort of trip! and I am still waiting.

Any thoughts appreciated.
Thanks

rotterdam0892 · 25 September 2006 at 11:56AM

We saw the northern lights purely by chance on a trip to Iceland at the end of October/early November a few years ago. We were coming out of the blue lagoon and looked up. I would recommend the north of any scandinavian country and iceland. A last minute.com trip might be a cheap way of getting there and quickly looking at the web found this company: http://www.arctic-experience.co.uk/northernlights/

So good luck and enjoy!:)

LumpyCustard_2 · 25 September 2006 at 12:10PM

I've seen aurora most times I've been to northern Scandinavia (apart from trips that were midsummer of course - it doesn't get dark enough). I'm an avid aurora-hunter

I'd advise going as far north as you can to maximise your chances - certainly above the Arctic Circle - and inland if possible. The Norwegian coast suffers from unpredictable weather, so avoid it if you've only got a few days. Tromso is great otherwise though, and is right under the auroral oval. Finland is good; Inghams do winter hols to several places in Finnish Lapland (Yllas, Levi, Saariselka) which are in the ideal place for sky-watching.

Best times to go are around the equinoxes (i.e. now and at the end of March), as you are more likely to see the northern lights then. The daylight hours are longer and weather is also better (although March can still be pretty cold). Don't leave it until May though because it's too light. You might also want to avoid full moons - can wash-out auroral displays.

saveapenny · 25 September 2006 at 1:50PM

You can see them in the UK if you sign up for the alerts via http://www.dcs.lancs.ac.uk/iono/aurorawatch/ it will tell you when and where is the best chance

alanrowell · 25 September 2006 at 5:44PM

Best chance is in Northern Canada on the night of a new moon - and in several years time as it's sunspot minimum at the moment which reduces substantially the chances of a good aurora.

Note that even if you turn up at the right time there's no guarantee of an aurora and it's best to have several days if not weeks spare

http://www.geo.mtu.edu/weather/aurora/

aurora_borealis_2 · 25 September 2006 at 5:46PM

That's twice I've clicked on this link now. I thought I was needed

Interesting thread though

Reubo · 27 September 2006 at 5:11PM

Thank you all very much for the replies.
They have been most helpful.
Cheers

F1F1 · 28 September 2006 at 3:38PM

You can also see the Northern Lights <Merry Dancers> here in the Shetland Isles!

TNG · 28 September 2006 at 3:52PM

There was an offer in The Guardian the other day for special flights to see the Northern Lights. I've since recycled it but if you search their web site you may find it

Aurora Borealis( Northern Lights) help..

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