northern lights?

skr80ab

I would like to plan a trip to see them and wondered if:

1. September is a good time to try to see them.

2. Which country / town (other than scotland) is best for viewing?

3. Which airport is best to fly to to get to that town.

any suggestion welcome, thanks

4Chickens

The one and only time I saw the Northern Lights is when I was in Ontario Canada (near the US border) and it was in early september. I don't know if there are many places in Britain that you can see them and I think (I may be wrong)that it is because of the background light from towns and cities etc.
I can certainly recommend Canada, it is a beautiful country

Edinburghlass_2

Seem them a couple of times near Oban but that is in Scotland

Reaper

Northern Finland, Iceland, Canada and other countries nearby.

If you are very flexible then you can get northern light forecasts for about the next 3 days, so you could jump on a plane when it looks hopeful. Just go a serach on Google, but here is one aimed at Finland to get you started.

Note that as you go further north the days get longer in the summer which will ruin your viewing. The long nights of winter are a better bet.

As it is a bit hit and miss I suggest you go to a location which has something to do other than watch in case they don't show. I've been to Iceland and liked it. Easy flight to the Reykjavik, English widely spoken, and lots of outdoor thermal springs to bathe in even in the depths of winter. Haven't been to the others so I can't comment on them.

alanrowell

Reaper wrote:

Note that as you go further north the days get longer in the summer which will ruin your viewing. The long nights of winter are a better bet.

In late September day/night is 12 hours wherever you are in the world

But would agree winter and as far north as you can get - especially in Canada is your best bet

Midget_Karen

I have seen them in Newcastle, UK, in late november

mystic_trev

Midget_Karen wrote:

I have seen them in Newcastle, UK, in late november

After how many drinks?

chalky_bertie

Off to Alaska soon and another chat forum has said that the best time to see them is in September - pity we are going in June.

littlereddevil

Not guaranteed that you will see them

kdee_2

wow..so many differing opinions!

This http://www.northern-lights.no/ is a great website and will give you an idea of where would be best for your own budget.

One thing is for sure..you are not guarantedd to see them at all, that's the sad fact.

Check out this link for a fab idea on a fab holiday. Hope this helps.
http://travel.guardian.co.uk/saturdaysection/story/0,8922,1055324,00.html

saveapenny

you can get to see them in a few places in the UK, they have even been spotted on the south coast
http://www.dcs.lancs.ac.uk/iono/aurorawatch/ some great photos on there