My quest to see the Northern Lights began in September 2011 and we’ve been chasing them every winter season since. I had literally just left from visiting Tim while he was living in Iceland and the very next night the Northern Lights danced for a week straight. They were so bright and so active, they even kept him up at night. After Tim raving about how incredible they were, I just had to see the Northern Lights for myself.
I got my first chance just three months later when I spent five nights in Rovaniemi, Finland on the Arctic Circle. And for five cloudy nights, I eventually went to bed after watching the sky until the wee hours of the morning.
Then Tim and I traveled to Svalbard in March of 2012. At 78° North and just 600 miles from the North Pole, we were actually above the Aurora Belt. We spent four nights watching for the elusive Aurora. Finally, on our second night in Tromso (on the eve of my birthday) the Northern Lights finally made an appearance. But it was cloudy, they were a white-gray color, and they danced for less than an hour. I had seen them, but it wasn’t what I expected and I craved a more spectacular display.
Wanting to ring in the New Year in Reykjavik because of the fireworks display of epic proportions we had heard about, the trip gave us another excuse to go Aurora hunting.
In the weeks leading up to our Iceland adventure and for years ever since, we’ve received tons of messages, comments, and emails from readers and followers about trips to see the Northern Lights. We don’t want to be a Negative Nancy, but feel it’s our duty to tell you all these 10 things no one ever tells you about the Northern Lights so you can set realistic expectations for an Aurora hunting trip.
1. Don’t go for the Northern Lights; go for the destination.
In talking to locals, including our new friend The Aurora Hunter, no one in Iceland had seen the Northern Lights in 3 weeks prior to our sighting. Storms had moved in clouding up the night skies and there just wasn’t much solar activity on the sun.
Had we visited Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Svalbard or Alaska only hoping to see the Northern Lights, we’d probably have been really disappointed. Instead, each destination gave us fantastic opportunities to be mushers for the day, go glacier hiking, and look for polar bears on a snowmobile expedition. Your adventure will be a memorable one when you have activities planned that you’re really excited for and seeing the Northern Lights is an added bonus if they do come out to dance.
Why Abisko is the Best Place in Europe to See Northern Lights
But, if you really want the best chances of seeing the Northern Lights in Europe, head to Abisko, Sweden. It’s the driest place in Sweden and has the most clear nights of almost anywhere else in the Aurora belt on the European continent.
Of course, Europe isn’t the only place you can see the Northern Lights. They’re also a number of places where you can see the Northern Lights in Canada and Alaska if you want to chase the Aurora in North America.
2. The Northern Lights are unpredictable.
In order to see the Northern Lights, you need a dark, clear night. They are visible from late August to early April anytime during dark hours, which in places like Abisko or Tromsø can be nearly 24 hours a day in the winter months. There also needs to be solar flares on the sun or solar wind. The Aurora Borealis happens when particles from the sun enter Earth’s atmosphere and collide violently with gas atoms. There are Aurora forecasts and we even use the Aurora Forecast app for iPhone that will predict the aurora activity level.
But the fact is, the Northern Lights are unpredictable. We’ve had clear nights when the Aurora forecast showed level 4 (high) activity and we didn’t see anything. The Aurora forecast said level 0 (no activity) on the night we saw a spectacular Northern Lights display in Myvatn, Iceland.
There are solar cycles, though, that scientists believe greatly affect Aurora activity. Timing your Northern Lights chasing trip with the sun’s increased solar activity can increase your chances of seeing the Aurora. That’s why you’re seeing so many headlines proclaiming 2024 to be the best year to see the Aurora.
The sun goes through a cycle about every 11 years. The sun last reached its solar minimum in December 2019, and there has been increasing solar activity ever since as the sun heads into a new cycle towards the solar maximum. Scientists believe based on studying long-term historical sunspot numbers that solar activity will peak in 2025. While scientists can’t exactly pinpoint when the solar maximum will be reached, solar physicist Frédéric Clette believes that the next 4 to 5 years will be the best Northern Lights viewing of the Solar Cycle 25.
3. It doesn’t have to be cold to see the Northern Lights; it just has to be dark.
Another common misconception people have is that it has to be cold to see the Northern Lights.
The Northern Lights are actually active all year round. But because they are only typically visible in the aurora zone between 65° and 72° North, they are not visible from April through August when the aurora zone experiences nearly 24 hours of daylight. People just tend to associate Northern Lights with the cold since they are visible in the winter months, but we have seen them in August in very comfortable temperatures.
Since it does need to be dark in order to see the Northern Lights in the sky, late August/September through the very beginning of April is the best time to go to a destination located in the aurora zone for a chance to see them. Also note that you usually need to stay up very late as the Aurora typically peaks between 12am – 2am.
Keep in mind that December isn’t typically the best month because popular Northern Lights destinations like Tromsø, Norway and Kiruna, Sweden have about 70% probability of precipitation each day during the month of December. Precipitation means cloud cover and cloud cover makes spotting the Northern Lights extremely difficult or often impossible.
You can consult with weather websites like WeatherSpark or The Weather Channel to find the averages for both temperature and precipitation when planning your trip.
4. The weather in the Arctic can change in the blink of an eye.
The weather in the Arctic is as notoriously unpredictable as the Northern Lights themselves. It’s not unusual to have sunshine, clouds, rain, sleet, hail, snow and high winds all in the same day. Just because you wake up to crystal clear skies, that doesn’t mean those crystal clear skies will stick around until Northern Lights viewing time once it’s dark out.
And the reverse is true. It was snowing heavily and there was 100% cloud cover when we went to bed on one of the nights we’ve seen the Northern Lights. Which leads us to our next tip…
5. You have to put effort into seeing the Northern Lights.
As we said before, it has to be dark to see the Northern Lights. That may mean you need to get out of the city to avoid light pollution. The Northern Lights are visible in cities like Reykjavik and Tromsø when they are at the strongest, but your best bet is to seek out spots in the Arctic countryside.
Northern Lights tours are great because the tour operators have been chasing the Northern Lights for years and can find the best spots for potential viewing even when there is low hanging cloud cover. Most tour operators will even offer for you to join a tour the next evening if you don’t see the Northern Lights. Viator hosted us on a Northern Lights Cruise with Special Tours and even though our cruise turned into a bus tour because of high winds and we didn’t see the Northern Lights, Special Tours graciously invited every single person on the tour to join them again any night within the next year.
We spent nine nights in Iceland and after New Year’s Eve, all of the remainder of those nights spent staying on Icelandic farms where we could literally walk out our front door to check for Aurora sightings. And that’s exactly what we did. Since the Northern Lights typically peak between 12am – 2am, we set our alarm clocks for every hour between 11pm and 2am. As much as it sucks dragging yourself out of your toasty warm bed after you’ve just drifted off to sleep and shocking yourself awake with blasts of cold Arctic air, our diligence paid off one evening.
Just after 1am and after we had gone to bed with heavy snow falling and 100% cloud cover, the wind blew the clouds away and a very faint green glow appeared on the horizon. We quickly threw on warm clothes and headed outside just in time for the Aurora to become active. It was only visible to our naked eye for about an hour, but we watched the green wisp billow and dance in the sky in the howling wind until the very last second that it danced away.
Luxe Adventure Traveler’s Complete Guide to Northern Lights in Iceland
Tip: Some hotels (such as Hotel Berg where we stayed in Keflavik and Hotel Ranga on Iceland’s South Coast) offer an Aurora wake-up call. Be sure to ask at reception as they often have Aurora hunters that will call the night staff to alert them to sightings.
6. Look in the direction north when hunting Northern Lights.
It might sound obvious, but Tim and I had this very argument on our last Northern Lights trip. As we waited for the first signs of the Northern Lights, I told him to look north.
“We’re already in the north, so they can start anywhere,” Tim retorted back.
Not believing me (typical!), I enlisted the help of a Northern Lights guide to confirm that the Northern Lights almost always start from the direction north.
When heading out to hunt for Northern Lights on your own, ensure you know which direction is north. The Aurora is unpredictable and can be very short lived. And when it is dim, it can look like a wispy gray or white cloud so it can also be easy to miss.
Your chances are better if you know which direction to watch. If you don’t have a great sense of direction, just ask a local. The Northern Lights are often as normal as the sun rising to a local and they can tell you which direction they most often appear.
7. The Aurora Borealis appears in a spectrum of colors. Including white-gray.
The unique colors of the Northern Lights are created by the Earth’s spectra of gases and the height in the atmosphere where the collision of particles from the sun and the Earth’s gases takes place. Our naked eye can most easily see the green-yellow part of the spectrum where the sun emits most of its light. Green is the most common color observed but the Northern Lights can also appear white-gray. And a cloudy night if you’ve never seen them before, you might not even be entirely sure of what you’re looking at.
Sometimes the Northern Lights are even present but not visible to the naked eye. We took a photo of some Icelandic horses nearby our cabin after we thought the Northern Lights had disappeared. We couldn’t see them, but our camera still could.
Tips for Photographing the Northern Lights
8. You can see the Northern Lights when there is a full moon.
Yet another misconception people have about how to see the Northern Lights is that you can’t see the Aurora when there is a full moon. We’ve shot the Northern Lights on multiple occasions with a full moon and actually like the effect. The moon illuminates the foreground and produces a much more blue-black sky.
With the full moon, we were even able to capture a Northern Lights selfie when out hunting solo. Without the moon, we would have needed someone else to paint us with a light, which is technique you can use to brighten an object in the foreground of a long exposure photo, making a selfie impossible.
9. The closest the Northern Lights ever come to Earth is 80 kilometers above the surface.
The Northern Lights often appear to shoot out of mountains like lava out of a volcano, yet it’s all just an optical illusion. The closest that the Northern Lights ever come to Earth is 80 kilometers (50 miles) above the Earth’s surface. In comparison, airplanes fly about 10 kilometers above the surface.
The altitude at which the Northern Lights appear has an effect on the color that they display. Different atom collisions in the magnetosphere are what produce the various color spectrum that the Northern Lights appear in. These collisions occur at different altitudes.
Green is the most common color that the Northern Lights appear in and green occurs from 100 – 240 kilometers above the Earth’s surface. Blues and violets occur below 100 kilometers and reds occur above 240 kilometers.
10. The Northern Lights aren’t going to disappear.
Our favorite click-bait article title was “Last Chance to See the Northern Lights Before They Disappear,” implying that you’ve got to go right now or there’s absolutely no chance of seeing the Northern Lights. The Northern Lights are NOT going to disappear.
Scientists do believe, however, that the Northern Lights brighten and become more visible in line with the sun’s activity. The sun has what scientists refer to as a solar life cycle and it occurs over the duration of about 11 years. The sun approached its solar minimum in 2019, the period of the least solar activity, and has been gaining strength again ever since. With less sun spots and solar flares as the sun approaches its solar minimum, the ionization and excitation of the particles needed to produce the Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis happens far less frequently. And the opposite is true as the sun approaches its solar maximum, with increased Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis activity.
That does mean that now and in the next few years is the best time to go on a Northern Lights chasing trip because the chances of seeing them will increase.
Can’t travel to see the Northern Lights? Watch the Northern Lights on these free Northern Lights webcams.
Seeing the Northern Lights in person is a bucket list experience for many. But until you can make the trip, you can watch the Aurora dance live on your screen on these free Aurora webcams:
University of Alaska, Fairbanks and Explore.org: Fairbanks, Alaska is home to the Geophysical Institute. They not only study the Aurora Borealis, but also makes predictions about when the Northern Lights might appear. The University of Alaska, Fairbanks also runs an Aurora cam with live viewing.
Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks: Fairbanks, Alaska runs a 360-degree camera for an all-sky view of the Northern Lights.
Lights Over Lapland: Abisko, Sweden is one of our top recommendations for Northern Lights viewing and we personally had a terrific experience with them. But if you can’t make it on a trip with Lights Over Lapland, you can still watch the Aurora on their Northern Lights live stream.
Polar Bears International and Explore.org: Churchill, Manitoba, Canada runs an Aurora webcam in one of the best places in North America to view Northern Lights.
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Ilkka Kauppinen says
Great post, eventhought title of it it should "..lights to tourist. "
Jennifer says
Touche! We had received so many questions and comments about seeing the Northern Lights that we just wanted to share our story that it isn't always easy to see them. Of course, the day after we left Iceland, the lights have danced for 5 nights straight. Isn't that always the way it goes?
Nora says
Yes, it occurs.
In 2013, the day l left Whitehorse, aurora broke up.
On Dec 19 2015,
I left a countryside near Tromso two days ahead of original plan , because l caught a cold, snowing everyday, aurora forcast said level
is low… and next 2-3 days aurora level became very high enough to
see even from Hokkaido, Japan.
I should have stayed there.
gaiagaia says
no that is not always the way it goes. it certainly wasn\’t like that for the people that came there for the next few days. They saw them. Maybe some of that negative thinking needs to go and you may have some better luck, ever thought about that? Seeing is believing or maybe it is Believing is Seeing!
Something to contemplate.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Actually, it is completely reliant on the gases and solar flares, plus the weather needs to be reasonably clear. So you can believe all you want, but if the conditions just aren’t right then you aren’t going to see the Northern Lights. We want people to be realistic in their expectations. We’re not here to sell pipe dreams.
Dan says
Oh my Jennifer, you are SO right. Science is science, either there are solar flares or there aren’t. They can’t even be predicted far in advance so once can’t set their holiday plans for certain days in order to see the lights. Wishing away and positive thinking will certainly get you no where. Thank heavens for common sense.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Precisely, Dan. You can wish all you want, but if the scientific conditions aren’t right to produce the gases that cause Northern Lights to be visible, then they won’t be visible. It’s really that plain and simple.
Pam says
Your entire post carries negative connotations. Please use more kind words when talking to others. The author gave very good advice on hunting Northern lights. And it does seem that things happen after the fact. I went to an Atlanta Braves game. I hoped to see Hank Aaron as he would frequent the games. He came to the game …. the day after I was I in Atlanta. So it does seem to go that way….even for us positive people. I loved the article. Thank you so much.
Desiree says
Is there a 100% chance i can see it
Jennifer Dombrowski says
No, there is never 100% chance unless you can stay for the nearly entire Northern Lights season.
Marie says
Hi, I just found your site and I wish I did before booking for a trip to Iceland for Northern Lights in December. Anyway, my arrival will be next Monday Dec 23rd and it is forecasted to be partly cloudy because the next day there will be a snow shower. Being an expert in NL chasing, would you recommend I make a booking for a tour? Of course I won’t hold you to it. I just want to get an advice from someone who knows how to read the forecast and Aurora app. I’ve downloaded your NL app and honestly have had difficulty comprehending it other than being able to see where it will cover on the world map the next day. Second part to my question is…you obviously have been to Iceland a few times, would you recommend I buy the NL tour tickets at the last minute with more certainty there is a chance to see it instead of committing and not being able to get a refund. Much, much appreciated if you or anyone can advise, thank you in advance!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Marie,
The thing about Iceland weather is that is changes very quickly. Just because clouds are forecast, it doesn’t mean that it won’t clear and the Northern Lights may be visible. The same with snow. One of the best Northern Lights displays we’ve seen in Iceland was on a night when there was heavy snowfall when we went to sleep. Still, we set our alarm to check if the sky would clear every hour and it did.
Here’s our guide to the Northern Lights in Iceland with recommendations for tours that either offer you the option to go another night or a refund if you don’t see the Northern Lights. They are pretty much totally unpredictable. There can be nights when the Aurora forecast is very high and then nothing. And also the Aurora forecast can say there is little chance, but then the Northern Lights make an appearance. It’s just a matter of getting out there and looking. https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/guide-to-northern-lights-in-iceland/
Best of luck and happy Aurora hunting!
Marc says
We are thinking of planning a trip to view Northern Lights and after doing some research I have a question about what can be seen with the naked eye.
I have read that most of the color that is seen in photographs is not seen by the naked eye, but rather the eye sees mostly white/gray streaks, etc.
Is this true?
Tim Davis says
Hi Mark,
When the Aurora is strong and active it will be one of the most amazing things you’ve ever seen.
When activity is low the camera tends to pickup the Aurora better than what your eyes do and makes it look a bit better than what you would have seen.
Amy L Hayward says
Yes! I just Returned from Fairbanks Alaska as an aurora viewing guide, and it appears grey or white to the naked eye. Colors appear in pics.
Palle Rasmussen says
I live in Greenland. Dry and clear most of the time, and from October to Christmas when it clouded over; I saw them almost every night. My bedroom window looks out across the sea to the south and often they cover half the sky.
If you want to see them, go to Greenland. I have lived in Norway also, but never saw them, but in Greenland you get used to it.
Ash says
Great !!!
Jacqueline Laurin says
Thank you Palle, then Greenland it is, I’ll try October.. have a wonderful day.
Jackie Laurin
Lisa Engle says
I’ve never stepped foot in Greenland but from the map’s perspective, it appears to be an awfully large country! Where in Greenland do you recommend, Palle?
Lifecruiser Travel says
Spectacular photos and great advices indeed, We’ll keep them in mind, thank you. It’s incredible that we both have grown up in Sweden, been to both Norway, Finland and Iceland and yet not have seen the Northern Lights – but it has been on our wish list for long now. Maybe we ought to prioritize a hunt for it soon…
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thank you! We haven’t been to Sweden yet but it is high on our bucket list to visit, in winter of course!
Kevin says
I went to Abisko in Sweden I went and saw the Lights three days out the four days I was there. They were amazing.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
We’ve since been to Abisko and wrote about it here: https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/best-place-in-europe-to-see-northern-lights/
Trish Woodbury says
Had a 3 night layover in Iceland in my way to a first trip abroad (from USA) took a Northern Lights mystery your. Mystery because you may or may not see the lights. Had my camera ready and the bus took off. The tour guide stopped and said I see the lights. Straining I just saw a wispy greyish cloud. Then people with cameras were say oooh aaah. I. Peaked over there shoulders and saw a most wonderful sight but didn’t know what I was doing until someone said adjust the f-stop or expisure. So I messed around with my camera and wow. Couldn’t see the lights with my naked eyes but got some fantastic pictures and a frozen nose. Well worth it. Your was the way to go. I would never have found the lights on my own.
Gina says
That last picture is so cool! Eerie even, like an alien spaceship is about to burst out of the sky. 😉
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks, Gina! The horses posed so nicely for us to get that shot. 🙂
Lifecruiser Travel says
If you ever comes to Stockholm when you go to Sweden, let us know and we might be at home so we can meetup 🙂 – or else give tips or advice or something.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
We will most definitely do that! We love meeting up with fellow wanderlusters. 😉
Rachelle says
LOVE the photos and the advice. What camera settings did you use to get the star-y sky?
Tim says
Hi Rachelle,
Most of these Northern Lights photos were a 10-20 second exposure. You want your widest aperture (lowest number to let the most light in), these were at F/2.8. Also, I bumped up the ISO to 1600 to bring in the lights more. Whether it be stars or Northern Lights the settings would be similar.
Dotty says
We are going for my 60th Birthday we have heeded your warning but have high hopes to see the lights at least one night? But Iceland will be an adventure in itself my husbands bucket list is “the lights” I am a photographer and wondered what shutter speed you used? I was also going to set one burst?
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Dotty,
Burst isn’t the setting you want to use; it’s shooting a succession of shots very quickly and you’ll end up with just black photos. You need to photograph on manual using a shutter speed somewhere between 5-30 seconds with a tripod. We usually start with 20 seconds and work up or down from there. We discuss photographing the Northern Lights in detail here: https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/tips-for-photographing-northern-lights/
Also, we recently put together a guide on the Northern Lights in Iceland. If you’re really set on seeing them, you’ll want to stay in one of the areas we recommend at one of the hotels we recommend. If you don’t want to check regularly for the Northern Lights yourself, you’d be best off booking a hotel that offers a Northern Lights wake-up call. Our guide to Northern Lights in Iceland: https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/guide-to-northern-lights-in-iceland/
Ian says
Depends how quickly the auroras are moving. If they are moving quite slowly use ISO400 and 10-30 secs but if they are moving quickly use ISO1600-3200 and 3-8 seconds. A very long exposure on fast moving auroras tends to capture one huge green blur. And it is VERY rare to see colours with the naked eye, so look for anything that looks like a light grey cloud moving across the sky in strange patterns, DO NOT wait until you see colours, if in doubt just start clicking away! I was out in a huge storm this week on Thursday in Rovaniemi and they still looked grey and a bit disappointing (until I’d taken my first shot!) And take plenty of camera batteries, I get through one every 2 hours on my Nikon D3300.
Ian says
Also bookmark these 3 websites on your phone –
https://www.softservenews.com/gps-aurora-borealis-forecast.html
http://aurorasnow.fmi.fi/public_service/
http://ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/avaruussaa
When all 3 sites have high numbers your guaranteed a show, I don’t completely understand the science behind them, but each website explains what readings you should be looking for.
Thomas says
Wow, what a stunning set of photographs! I was very fortunate to see the Northern Lights … from above. I was flying from Denver to London at the end of September. It really was a spectacular site. But I still need to see them from the ground … will definitey heed your advice 🙂
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Seeing them from a plane would be amazing too, Thomas! Sounds like you were very lucky. I can understand why you want to see them from the ground; we just can’t get enough of them!
LatinAbroad says
what a great post! I saw them in Iceland in Dec 2009 and cried. So beautiful. Did you also hear them sing? I did!
Jennifer says
Thanks LatinAbroad! What do the lights sound like when they sing? It was quite windy that night, which thankfully had blown away all the cloud cover, so we didn't hear much but the howling wind.
Shirlyn says
Hi, may I know which part of Iceland should I stay that has the highest chance of catching the Aurora?
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Shirlyn, you have much less light pollution in the north of Iceland. Hotel Ranga on the South Coast also boasts being the best place in Iceland to see the Northern Lights, though that is because they have a Northern Lights watch every night. The weather in Iceland is unpredictable and can change drastically within a few minutes.
Christy says
These photos are gorgeous! I love the tip about staying at a place that has wake up service because I would be horrible about getting up every hour!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks Christy! I am horrible at getting up. That was the nice part about staying at the Icelandic farms. We could literally sleep with the curtains open to watch out the window and just stick our heads out the door to see if Northern Lights had come.
Maria says
what a great post! I saw them in Iceland in Dec 2009 and cried. So beautiful. Did you also hear them sing? I did!
– Maria Alexandra
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Maria! How amazing! No, it was actually quite windy that night so not only were we completely bundled up with hats and our hoods on, the wind was howling. What do they sound like when they sing?
Laura Vaisman says
Wow! I really want to see this. Those are some good tips, that I had no idea about. But really cool. Beautiful pictures by the way!
Jennifer says
Thanks Laura! If the Northern Lights were easy to see, they probably wouldn't be as special.
Stuart says
Nature is mostly so unpredictable which I guess is what helps make spotting the aurora special; not everyone can get to see them. Good advice about enjoying the destination and treating an aurora sighting as a bonus, less disappointing that way! Sounds exhausting though all those late nights and waking up in the middle of the night.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Stuart! You are absolutely right! If the Northern Lights were easy to see, they probably wouldn’t be so special. It is tiring, but the sun doesn’t rise until around 11 – 11:30am in Iceland in winter, so you can sleep in!
Edna says
Cheers for the tips — we’re planning our honeymoon for Iceland and hope to try to catch the northern lights so will be keeping a bookmark on this page for closer to the date!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Congratulations Edna! What a fantastic place to honeymoon! We’ve still got more posts to come from our recent trip to Iceland and we also have a bunch from our first first last September. Check out our Iceland category and feel free to send us a message if you need any suggestions!
The Aurora Photo Guide : Runólfur Hauksson says
🙂
Jennifer says
We will just have to come back again! Thanks for sharing our post Ronnie!
The Travelbunny says
Great tips and what fabulous photos too. Maybe I'll be lucky enough to see the lights some day 🙂
Jennifer says
We hope you are The Travelbunny! They are truly a spectacular sight to see.
aiden says
THANK YOU FOR POSTING, because these pics truly are breath taking! Also, this helped me out ALOT because im doing a project on the northern lights ..so THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Glad you found the information helpful, Aiden!
Gunnar Gunnarsson says
The truth about Aurora Borealis/Northern Lights. What to expect.
Jennifer says
Thanks for sharing, Gunnar!
Jennifer says
That is precisely why we wrote this post. We received so many messages and comments implying that people think it is easy to see the Northern Lights. The truth is that it is not easy and actually requires effort. We don't want to discourage anyone from trying to see them, but we want people to be well informed about what they are in for!
Gunnar Gunnarsson says
No problem. There are so many misunderstandings about the Northern Lights. Like: just travel to Iceland and you will see the lights, and another one goes like this: You only see the lights if its freezing cold.
Cacinda says
Congrats on finally getting to see it! I was following you guys the whole way! Great post for future travelers to Iceland, thanks.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks, Cindy! We don’t want to discourage anyone from taking trip to see the Northern Lights, but we just wanted to set realistic expectations about them.
Fran Waljer says
Iceland is a great trip even if you don’t see the lights. That is the bonus but you’ll adore Iceland!
Andrea says
Wow you were SO lucky! These shots are amazing…I was hoping to get up to see them this year since we’re in Norway and all – but I’ve heard they can be elusive so like you recommend, we’re trying to find a good destination. Thinking this luxury place that also does all the excursions you mention…that way we won’t be too sad if we miss them. But people have reported them here in Stavanger as early as last autumn! So perhaps we’ll get lucky in our own backyard…
Jennifer Dombrowski says
That’s right, Andrea! You are in Norway. You should go to the north. I would recommend keeping a close eye spaceweather.com and when there is a lot of solar activity, jet on up to the north! There was an explosion on the sun Sunday and of course people have seen the Northern Lights every night this week.
Ali says
The fact that the Northern Lights are so unpredictable is the one thing I’m most worried about whenever we do get around to traveling to Iceland. You are absolutely right, go for the destination not for the lights. But I think Iceland is where I’d most like to see them, so I refuse to go outside of the months when you can see them. I love that some hotels do wake up calls for them, that’s awesome, and a great thing to keep in mind.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Unfortunately, since you have to plan ahead it is the luck of the draw. Of course a big solar explosion happened Sunday and people have seen the Northern Lights every night this week. That happens, so if you have fun activities planned and don’t see them, you won’t be nearly as disappointed.
Ali says
Oh, and your photos are GORGEOUS!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks, Ali! The photo credit goes to Tim. He was snapping away while I fell in holes in the snow covered lava field.
Talon says
So was New Year’s in Iceland worth it? I’m considering it for 2014.
Tim says
Hi Talon! New Year’s Eve in Reykjavik was absolutely worth it! We sprung for attending the gala at the Perlan, which included a tour of Reykjavik’s traditional bonfires and then a 360 degree panorama of the fireworks from atop the Perlan. We’ve already talked about going again this year because it was so amazing! If we did, we’d skip the gala and just visit the various bonfires and then watch the fireworks from the Perlan’s parking lot like many Icelanders did.
Check out our post on NYE and we’ve also got a short video on our YouTube channel.
Jenny says
I’ve always wanted to see the Northern Lights so I know I’d be disappointed if I missed them. I’ll certainly now be seriously considering where I go to see them after you mentioning that it is best to go for the destination.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Jenny! Definitely go to a destination that you really want to see and then hope you do see the Northern Lights. And if you don’t, you just have a reason to go back! That’s how we look at it. Sure, we wish we saw them every night. But if they were easy to see, I suppose they wouldn’t be so special.
Yvonne says
WOW, amazing pictures! And great tips! Hope to see the Northern Lights one day!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks, Yvonne! The Northern Lights really are a sight to see. Hope you get to see them soon!
Ally says
Great tips. There quite pretty, it would be amazing to see them one day!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks, Ally! If you ever have the opportunity, I highly recommend you try to see them. Aside from the Northern Lights, there are so many great activities to do in destinations you can potentially see them!
Ed Graham says
Great post as always; those pictures are absolutely incredible.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks, Ed! Tim definitely gets all the photo credit for the pictures. We were just so thrilled to see the Northern Lights!
Amanda says
Amen on #1! I went to Iceland in March 2012 hoping to see the Lights, but was met with cloudy weather every single night. Luckily I had planned a ton of other activities (because, come on, Iceland is amazing!) and I wasn’t all that disappointed at not seeing them. If that had been the main goal of my trip though? I probably would have been devastated, and wouldn’t have enjoyed Iceland as much.
I’m still on a mission to see them at some point this year though!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Agreed, Amanda! Iceland is amazing. It’s too bad you had cloudy weather every night, but that’s just the way it goes sometime. I’m glad to hear you’re not giving up! We’re hooked and can’t wait until our next opportunity to see the Northern Lights.
Ellen says
Loved this post, Jennifer. Thanks for sharing your knowledge, experience and stunning photos. After following many pages about Finland and Scandinavia on my Gold Boat Journeys page (climb aboard the faceboat, there’s plenty of room), they’ve risen to the top of my travel wish list. I love the natural beauty and serene snowy landscapes, and since I’m a x-c skier, winter would be the time I choose to visit. Looking forward to following you on Facebook, Twitter and RSS. Happy sails from Gold Boat Journeys: Live. Write. Travel. Explore.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks, Ellen! Lapland would be a fantastic and picturesque place to cross country ski. Even better if you can ski under the Northern Lights!
Alessandro says
Excellent tips Jennifer! We have shared them on our Facebook page, too.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks for sharing our tips on the Lappone Facebook page, Alessandro! We’re so glad to hear that you found them helpful.
Travel Fashion Girl says
Wow! Nature really is divine. And the best part is you get to see it! Thank you for sharing it with us through your blog. It’s as if we were there too!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
We’re glad you enjoyed the post! Yes, nature is spectacular and we feel so blessed to have witnessed the phenomenon.
Wil says
I was to young to remember much about seeing the Northern Lights when I got to. I hope to see them again one day!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
I hope you do too, Will! Seeing the Northern Lights is spectacular.
Andrew says
As Ali mentioned, the lights are really high on her list. I am intrigued enough that Ali is willing to travel to a very cold place in winter to see them,. As I keep seeing more pictures, I do think I wioiuld like to see them. The wake up calls (and the job of Aurora Hunter) sound awesome.
Pretty cool that they are brilliant enough to be photographable.
Tim says
It’s a misconception that it needs to be cold to see the Northern Lights. Tim saw them for the first time in early September in Iceland and the temperatures were still quite nice then. I think people just associate them with cold because of the places where you have to go to see them and because they are only visible between September and March. I hope you guys get to go and that you see them! They are truly spectacular to witness.
John Scherer says
I have seen the northern lights many times living in northern minnesota but only three times that were amazing, it was very cold outside but lights so bright and spectacular that you didn`t feel the cold just warmth.
Deb says
Great tips and shots! We still have yet to see the Northern Lights ourselves. Like you said, we’ve had opportunities, we’ve been in the right place at the right time of year but it just wasn’t the right time for us. I hope to see them one day soon myself. You’ve given me hope. It took you a few tries, so we’ll get there one day soon too…i hope 🙂
Jennifer Dombrowski says
I have no doubt you will see the Northern Lights sometime on your travels, Deb! They’re really incredible and I’m hooked.
Marilynn says
I saw the Northern Lights for about 4 hours on my second trip to Iceland, which was last January. I guess it was a “bucket list” thing for me. They were SO beautiful, an irridescent green, looking like dancing ribbon candy in the sky.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Wow, 4 hours Marilyn? Lucky you! They are mesmerizing to watch dance in the sky!
Andi says
Such great tips! I was in Iceland, but missed the NL. Definitely want to go back for them.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks, Andi! Isn’t Iceland fantastic? We’re already dreaming of going back again.
Sofie says
Great tips on here!
It must be frustrated if you don’t get to see him.
Of course you also travel for the destination, but I’m guessing anyone going to Iceland and not seeing the Northern lights will be slightly disappointed:)
Jennifer Dombrowski says
It can be frustrating, Sophie! But on all my trips which I didn’t see the Northern Lights, I had so much fun and such awesome experiences that I couldn’t be too disappointed.
Suzy says
I had no idea there was such thing as an Aurora wake up call. How neat! It definitely seems like you must be patient to actually see the Northern Lights.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
We didn’t know about Aurora wake up calls either, but now we’re sure to ask! It definitely does take patience but once you see the Northern Lights, it is oh-so-worth the effort.
Lindsey says
Wow, wow, wow! Amazing photos!! The Northern Lights are such a magical thing, I’m hoping to be able to see them later this year 🙂 If you don’t mind me asking, what camera setup did you use to capture the lights?
Jennifer Dombrowski says
To keep it pretty simple here are a few tips. 1. Use a tripod 2. Long shutter speed 15-30 seconds 3. Wide Open Aperture F2.8 or whatever your fastest setting is. 4. Bump your ISO up to around 1600. From there you just have to play around with it depending on how active or bright it is. Then just hope for clear skies and some solar activity.
Lindsey says
Thanks! Did you use a specific lens though that you preferred for photography lie this? I’m currently looking into investing in a really great lens and I’m interested in what others use and love.
Tim Davis says
If I had to do it again I would get a Tokina 11-16 f/2.8. I bought a used Tokina 12-24 f/4 but had to send it for repairs so bought a Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 for the Iceland trip. You want a fast and wide lens for Northern Lights. The 11-16 also makes a great lens for cities or landscape photography.
Debbie Beardsley says
Very cool! Something I’d love to see and will keep your tips in mind. Loved all your pictures
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks, Debbie! The Northern Lights are very special. We’re off on one last trip this season with hopes they come out to dance. Cross your fingers for us over the next week!
Mikey says
Wow! The northern lights is on my bucket list. I just have to convince my wife that is not very found of cold weather to go with me. Great blog thanks for the great info.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
You might try one of those glass igloos in Finland to avoid the cold! Definitely something special when you do see them. 🙂
Elizabeth says
Thanks, great post – trying to plan a trip out there for spring 2014 with other half. This should help to clarify things a bit – especially about doing loads of beautiful things and then just hoping to catch a glimpse of AB if we’re *really* lucky 🙂
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Ooh, we’re jealous Elizabeth! Iceland is one of our very favorite countries and we going back again and again. Let us know if you need any other info for planning your trip. We have tons of posts about it!
Angela says
I completely agree. I did not know what to expect when trying to find the aurora borealis in Iceland. We waited and were slightly disappointed at a faint show because pictures make the lights look WAY better. However, our best showing was just outside of Reykjavik even with light pollution. Be patient and bundle up. Look for a ribbon of colors forming (near the horizon in Iceland in March).
Love your pictures!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks, Angela! I’m glad you got to see them. It does take patience and persistence to see them.
Peter Shaw says
Wow, great images and some good points too. I have always wanted to see the Northern Lights but have never had the chance. Hoping to get up to Scandinavia in the next few years so I might see I I can get up there in winter. Pity they are so fickle! you can’t base a trip around actually seeing them, rather on ‘hoping’ to see them. Nice post!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
The good news is there’s plenty to do in Scandinavia in winter! No, you really can’t base a trip around seeing them unless you have the ability to hop on a plane within a few days after a solar storm and when clear weather is predicted. But they are amazing to see and we’d encourage anyone to try!
Ellen Lafleche-Christian says
That must have been truly stunning to watch!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Yes, the Northern Lights are beautiful and so special to see. Hope you get to experience them yourself, Ellen!
Anita Hynd says
I am planning on going in November, is this a good time?
Jennifer Dombrowski says
How was your trip, Anita? Did you see the Northern Lights?
Anita Hynd says
Absolutely stunning!
Jennifer says
The Northern lights look amazing, but good tips – you shouldn’t go with the sole expectation to see the lights, but for the destination
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Absolutely, Jennifer. I think many people have the idea it’s like flipping a switch and you just see them. Some do get lucky, but mostly it is a lot of patience and effort to see the Northern Lights.
Jennifer says
Northern Lights can be visible from September – March. Hope you have good weather for your trip!
Jennifer says
Yes, beautiful when the colors are visible to the naked eye!
Jennifer says
That's awesome, John! Hopefully they'll be putting on a show for you this winter.
YJ says
Gorgeous photos! Agree that we should be going for the destination rather than the northern lights since its so unpredictable. I’m sure the country offers a lot more than just the northern lights!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
There is a lot to do, especially for outdoor and adventure lovers in the Scandinavian countries where you can see Northern Lights.
2Musos says
Fantastic photography and tips Jennifer! My husband and I are a couple of Aussies in our 50’s and are planning a Northern lights trip in mid Feb 2014, but can’t decide between Iceland, Norway or Finland. We want to go husky sledding and see reindeer also, as well as experience other cultural and arctic experiences which will be polar opposites from our sunny lifestyle here. Having been to these places, where can you recommend? Have you been to the Lofoten Islands? Cheers, Rosey and Shaun
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Rosey and Shaun! We’ve been to all 3 countries during Northern Lights season. In Norway, you’ll need to go further north than the Lofoten Islands though. Tromso is known for being the spot in Norway to see Northern Lights. It just all depends on getting lucky with clear weather and that the sun has been active. Norway, Finland or Sweden are definitely the spots that you can easily go dog sledding and interact with reindeer. Iceland has reindeer too, but they are 100% wild and only live in a small remote area of the east coast.
Chris Gulland says
Hello like 2Musos we are also from Aus and planning at trip in early 2015. we thought we would include a Huritigruten cruise to Kirkenes to give us an additional opportunuity to see the lights do you have an opinion on this?
Jennifer Dombrowski says
You’ll have a great trip Chris! We haven’t been on the Huritigruten yet, but we know it’s an awesome trip. Since the Northern Lights are moving, it really doesn’t matter if you photograph them from a boat or land.
In Kirkenes, do the king crab safari! That’s been on our list for a while. 🙂
Suzette Barnett says
This is very helpful for my mom who wants togo see the northern lights. I keep telling her not to have high expectations because I've read so many times that people travel to see them and see none… so your post is perfect for increasing our chances. Thanks.
Suzette
trysomethingfun.blogspot.com
Jay says
Great post!
We used to occasionally see the Northern Lights growing up in Canada but I took them completely for granted. Now we’re living in Norway but on the Southern tip where it’s pretty rare to experience them.
Jennifer says
Thanks, Jay! How awesome that must have been to grow up under the Northern Lights!
Tracy Soan says
Great site, thanks 🙂 I’d love some advice please. Ultimately I’m desperate to see the lights but completely understand your point that they can be elusive so go for the trip and experience the place. I’m looking at Reykjavik in Iceland and Tromso in Norway as a 4 day mini break. Which would you recommend please for me, hubby and 15 yr old daughter and which country has the greatest chance of sighting the aurora, as I can’t find anything about that either. All comments very much appreciated. Thanks so much!
Jennifer says
Hi Tracy! Unfortunately, because the weather can change so quickly this far north where you need to be to see the Northern Lights, you won’t find information about which country you have the best chance of seeing them in is. It’s a total crap shoot completely dependent on having both clear skies and activity on the sun.
That said, we’ve had the best experiences with Northern Lights in Iceland, though we have seen them in Iceland, Norway, and Finland. You won’t be hard pressed to find a lot to do in either Tromso or Reykjavik. We’ve written about both destinations here on our website, so I’d peruse and make the decision on which destination has the most activities you want to do.
Charu says
Really beautiful and well done! I agree you need to go there for the destination and not for the lights!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thank you, Charu! The great thing about these destinations where it is possible to see the Northern Lights is that there are so many winter activities to do.
Jennifer says
We hope she does get to see the Northern Lights Suzette. But we also hope she heeds our advice so she's not disappointed. It's definitely worth the effort when you do see them thought!
Jeremy says
Great tips and photos! It’s my dream to see the Northern Lights one day. I think your first tip is the most important–don’t go with the expectation of seeing them, because you’ll probably walk away unhappy. Perspective and attitude is everything!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks! After talking to many people, we found people just don’t realize how much effort you have to put in to seeing the Northern Lights. I hope you do get to see them one day though!
Grace says
Hi there,
I am heading to Tromso in Dec 2013 to try catch the Northern Lights, do you think it’d be a good time as I read that most are trying to catch the NL between Aug – Oct. I just hope I see it when I get there.
Thanks for your advise
G
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Grace! The Northern Lights are visible from September – March, so you have the same chance of seeing them. Just keep your expectations realistic! There’s never any guarantee. There is plenty to do in and around Tromso though that make it a great destination to travel to in winter.
Priya Tulsyan says
We would like to travel in January…wich place do you recommend?
Anne says
Thanks for sharing your Northern Lights tips. I hadn’t realised how difficult they can be to see, so at least now I know if we ever travel to those areas that we should book into a hotel which will call us when/if they appear.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
The Northern Lights wake-up calls are a great way to have a restful sleep without worrying that you are missing something. Hope you have the chance to see the Northern Lights sometime Anne!
Emma says
Fabulous pictures I was lucky in Finland this year to see them many times but missed the biggest & best show that went on during my stay. Going back next year in hope of seeing them again, if not I’ve still visited a beautiful country!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Glad to hear you got to experience the Northern Lights, Emma! And yes, Finland is a beautiful country to visit.
Ross says
Superb photos. I totally agree with your points and I think the first one is the most important. I only saw the northern lights on my 3rd attempt and made the mistake the first time (in Tromso) of only having that to do. It wasnt the best trip because we had nothing else planned. As you say if you make sure you go for the destination first then you will still have a good time.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
I’m really glad to hear that your first trip didn’t deter you from future ones, Ross! So long as you plan other fun things, you won’t go home disappointed.
YY says
Great article. We spent 6 nights in Nellim, Finland and boy, we got really luck to be rewarded with a 30-show of aurora “storm” at 3am in the morning just before we were about to pack our gear for the night. Would love to share photos and tips!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Wow, that sounds amazing! Stop by our Facebook page and share some photos!
Jessie says
we have northern lights in michigan – they are incredible! love your photos!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Do you see them often in Michigan?
Melanie Murrish says
Excellent advice-my almost 7 year old has had a “thing” about the northern lights for as long as I can remember-as you can imagine, disappointment for a child can be devastating! 😉
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Maybe you’ve got a future Aurora hunter on your hands!
Aud says
One thing no one told me was that you need a bloody good camera and know how to set the proper settings!!
i saw them really strongly but my camera could only capture bright green and a dark background. was really sad! =(
Jennifer Dombrowski says
We’ve also got a great article on tips for photographing the Northern Lights that you should check out!
Lance says
Just saw your Facebook message about everyone sharing this post today so I thought I’d have a read too! This really is awesome. I’m pinning it to save for when we eventually plan this trip.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks, Lance! Also check out our tips for photographing the Northern Lights!
Dawn says
Just been reading your tips and so glad i have….hoping to be taken to Iceland in March Aurora hunting as a 50th birthday treat and will now be buying us a new camera just in case we get lucky, thanks for all the great advice 🙂
Jennifer Dombrowski says
That will definitely be a fantastic birthday treat, Dawn! Stop by our Facebook page. We post alerts for the big solar storms and when you can expect great Northern Lights showings.
You should be quite lucky. We have friends that have seen them 17 of 20 days already this month.
Chris says
Thanks for the feedback, At this stage Feb next year! Wahooo!
Chanel says
Great tips and advice. Wonderful photos! 😀
scott says
I think the best advice you gave is to go for the destination-seeing the lights is a bonus. We went to Iceland a few weeks ago with exactly that attitude. We didn’t even expect to see the lights, or if we did I thought it might be faint. But on our first night they had what was called the best display in years! We saw green, red and even purple. The lights came out before it was even fully dark and lasted well past the time we went to bed. We got totally lucky. But the aurora reports have had almost zero sightings since we left 2 weeks ago.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Wow, awesome photos Scott! We’re so glad that you did see the Northern Lights and what a display you had. No, there hasn’t been much activity lately so it looks like you were there at the right time. We’re headed back to Iceland again in September so we’re hoping our luck there continues.
Can we share the link to your photos with our readers?
scott says
Sure, no problem! Great site, by the way.
Ron says
I hadn’t really thought about it but aurora hunting requires some planning. At least it did for me when I went to Alaska.
1. Be sure to check out the weather forecast.
2. Get away from all ambient light if possible. I could still see the glow of Fairbanks’ lights from over 80 miles outside of town.
3. Ambient light from moonlight is a consideration, especially if you’re going to shoot photos of the aurora. If you’re traveling to a destination then you should check whether the moon in its various phases will or won’t make its appearance. You can do this online.
4. When considering a destination to go to and see the aurora, pick a favorable time of the year, weather wise for the locale you’re going to. Some months may be more likely to have adverse conditions (snow, fog, etc.) that you want to avoid.
5. Don’t take naps. If you’re out and about, you’re awake. Otherwise you could miss the show.
6. IMHO you’re better off if you get out of the hotel if it’s located in a city instead of using their notification service. You could’ve missed the auroral display by the time you get out of town where you’re able to see it
7. Follow Solarham to check out the solar conditions. Aurora Borealis Notifications on Facebook also puts out notifications on auroral sightings in Alaska. There are multiple web cams in different locales throughout the northern hemisphere that will show when the aurora make its appearance.
8. Be sure to have the right clothing. Wear layers and well insulated boots.
9. Seeing the aurora is a very special experience. While this site has absolutely lovely photos, many who have seen the aurora in person would tell you there’s no comparison and that you have to see it in person to truly appreciate it.
Mohammad Raihan Mazumder says
incredible! so much likes to northern lights. hope someday i’ll be there.
Kshama says
I am planning Iceland just to see Northern light from sept 3 to sept 9, 2014 and hoping to see them. I am also globe traveller, female, senior and enjoying travelling, mostly alone. Seen almost the whole world and now picking spots and see the countries not travelled yet. I will be taking tours so hoping they know where to go and what to see.Your blog helped me a lot and very good pics and advice. Was in Rovanimani and went to Inari to see midnight sun, great place…
Jennifer says
You’ll enjoy your trip Kshama. And we sure hope you’ll see the Northern Lights because we’ll be back in Iceland at the same time as you. So best of luck to both of us!
Iris says
Thanks for the tips! I’ve read that end of August and early September is a good time to try to go aurora hunting. I’ve also read on your site and elsewhere that the aurora season begins at the end of September (around the September 23 equinox). I’m planning to go to Reykjavik and Tromsø sometime between Sept 3-Sept 12 hoping to see the lights. I understand that the Northern Lights are unpredictable, but do you know if that is a good time to try to chance on the auroras? In early September is it more likely to see them in one city over another?
Jennifer says
No, the problem with late August and early September is that it is still light until around 10pm and is light again by 5am in Reykjavik (even less hours of darkness in Tromso during the period), so the window to possibly seem them is much shorter. But we certainly hope you see them as we’ll be back in Iceland at the same time as you and are hoping for a showing ourselves!
Jaryd says
Such a GREAT post! thank you so much for sharing, you rock!
P.S I’m still going regardless of wind, hail, rain and sleet I will see this before I die 🙂
Jenna says
Hi Jennifer! These are some awesome pointers, thanks so much for posting about your experience. I just moved to the upper peninsula of Michigan where reportedly they are seen quite often. I’ve yet to experience them myself but am extremely determined to do so before finishing school and moving elsewhere. I did however see some (possibly?) lightening/waves of whitish grey lights the other night through my window. It was sorry of pulsating through the sky. I was pretty sure it was lightening but had never seen such an abundance of activity without any rain or thunder, the sky lot up every few seconds. It was a bit cloudy. My roommate assured me northern lights are always vibrant colors but I’m pretty sure that’s inaccurate. Any thoughts/advice? Again, very determines to see them, particularly the pretty colored ones! Any input much appreciated:)
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Jenna,
Northern Lights are only colored to the naked eye when they are very strong and bright, otherwise they usually look like light green or whitish wisps moving through the sky. They can be very fast or slower moving, sort of looking like a weird cloud. It’s possible that what you saw could have been Northern Lights.
Louise says
Hi I have just come back from Iceland & was lucky enough to see the Northern Lights! Your photos are far far better than the piccys I took on my iphone but It was unbelievable & an experience I will never forget. Thanks for the tips xx
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Awesome, Louise! So glad that you got to see them. It’s been a good Northern Lights season already. We were in Iceland for most of September and managed to see them three different times, including the biggest display we’ve seen yet. We’d love to see some of your photos! Head on over to our Facebook page and share some with us.
chris says
Thanks for all your posts, on the Northern lights, our turn is coming. Reykjavik for new year now that is something I’d not thought of.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Do you have a trip planned, Chris?
Reykjavik is our favorite place we’ve ever spent New Year’s. They know how to host a good party there!
Rowena says
So glad I stumbled across you!
I am heading to Iceland in December with my husband for his 40th birthday… Northern lights tour booked for the first night and keeping everything crossed!
Will look at your other tips for where to visit… It’s our first child free holiday in 7 years so we want to see as much as we can!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
What a great birthday gift, Rowena! I’m sure you will love Iceland and hopefully you get to see the Northern Lights. It’s been a very good season so far. Let us know if you have any questions about planning your trip. We’re happy to help!
Kim says
Thanks for all the great information!
I am finalizing my planning for ten days in Iceland in February 2015.
To maximize my chances I have planned a four day guided hiking trip in Thorsmork and a three day trip to Jokulsarlon, so I’ll be spending five nights out in the countryside with a tour opreator helping with spotting the Northern Lights.
Do you think a digital compact camera with manual options on a tripod will be ok to capture the lights if they appear?
I have a Lumix T25, which offers ISO up to 1.600 as well as an aperture of 3.3 and a maximum shutter speed of 15 sec. I’ve been looking into buying a Canon EOS 100d, but I’d rather spend my money on adventures in Iceland than on a new camera…
Keep your fingers crossed! Hiking, glacier walking, snorkeling, horseback riding, ice cave tour… I can’t wait!!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Kim,
Your trip to Iceland sounds wonderful. With 10 days there should be a pretty good chance of seeing the Northern Lights. While it may be possible to get some pictures of the Northern Lights with you Panasonic Lumix, it will be a little difficult. I don’t believe the Lumix has a manual focus so it may just try and hunt for something to focus on at night. Be sure to practice learning the controls and just try to take some star pictures at night. The concept is rather similar and knowing what buttons you need to hit will be much easier once your familiar with them.
The Canon EOS 100D (SL1 in the US), is the one I was going to recommend for a no thrills DSLR and it would get the job done a little easier in my opinion. Anyways, enjoy your trip and I hope you get to see them.
Sharon Ang says
Love your amazing northern lights photos and the wonderful tips.!
Just came back from my Iceland and Norway northern lights chasing trips!
I had visited Reykjavik for the 4 days 3 nights! And I am so blessed that get to see the northern lights on the re-book second night as first night was cancelled due to the rain and cloudy sky.
Visited Oslo for gateway to Tromso, have stayed 4 days 3 nights at the Lauklines Kystferie (private island) in Tromso, and I am blessed to see the northern lights on the second night and dancing northern lights just right in front of my cabin.
Stayed in Tromso city for 3 days 2 nights, second night we get to see very light green northern lights but cover by the clouds, was so happy and quickly prepared camera try to get the northern lights but failed as later strong wind and rain came by, but managed to take 1 image.
I am still couldn’t forgot how amazing of the dancing northern lights, thinking of going to see northern lights again and again, and started to plan, and hope to get good price of the air ticket to go either Sweden, Canada or Alaska to see it again!
Sharon Ang from Singapore
Shirlyn says
Hi, may I know if december 2015 or March 2016 will have a better chance to spot the northern lights? And if sweden or iceland is better? If so, is there a recommended particular spot? Hope to hear from you soon! Thanks!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Shirlyn,
I would recommend March over December simply because the typically snow falls in December. Abisko, Sweden statistically has more days of viewing the Northern Lights than anywhere else in Europe and due to the microclimate, the weather is much more stable than in Iceland. We wrote about why Abisko is the best place to see Northern Lights here: https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/best-place-in-europe-to-see-northern-lights/
carla says
Hi!!! I love your post! My boyfriend and I are planning to go to Escandinavia in early September, so we were thinking about going somewhere to try to see the northern lights. Do you have any idea which place would be the best in Septmeber? Also we will look for other activities following your advices! Thanks a lot! Cheers from Argentina!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Carla! You’ll want to head far north as the sun will still shine in the Arctic until about 10pm in September. It’s really hard to say where the best place is as it just all depends on the weather and on activity on the sun. We’ve had a lot of luck in Iceland in September in multiple years with seeing the Northern Lights. Abisko in Sweden statistically reports the most nights of Northern Lights visibility and does have much better and predictable weather than Iceland due to their microclimate. Either would be a good choice.
Nidhi says
Hello!
Great tips indeed. By husband and I are planning to visit Scandinavia in December as I would like to see Christmas there and also witness Northern lights. For a period of 2 weeks which destinations will you recommend. Also we live in Mumbai so aren’t used to extreme winters. How would the weather be in the these destinations that you would recommend and will it be possible to get warm clothing on rent there?
Regards,
Nidhi
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Nidhi,
It will be quite cold, especially for someone not used to the weather. It also tends to snow more in December. All the outdoor clothing is available for activities you’ll do and is usually included with the tours like snowmobiling or dogsledding. I’d recommend having a good coat, boots, waterproof gloves, hat and scarf. We typically wear thermal layers under the clothing provided when doing outdoor activities.
Abhinav says
Hi,
Nice images, i am planning for ICELAND in Dec for 8 days, i have request to make, as i m also a amateur photographer, planning to make lots of Timelapse of Aurora, waterfalls, lakes, etc, varied landscape, can you plz help me out in making a itinerary , and which places to go and the days needed…need your recommendation, which is better a self drive tour or a escorted tour , as i have heard, it snows heavily, roads blockage, and becomes difficult for driving,.i will really appreciate if u can help me in that.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi! We only recommend a self-drive for Iceland. There’s no reason to pay for a guided tour as most are overpriced. Especially if you are interested in being able to photograph the sites and create time-lapse videos, a bus tour is not the way to go. We already have an itinerary. Have you checked it out? https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/iceland-ring-road-itinerary/
Abhinav says
Hey Jennifer,
thanks for the reply, this 8 days itinerary looks fabulous, yeah you said it right, a guided bus tour is not the way to go to travel Iceland, as my motive is to make time lapses and Photography, i have one more query before i go ahead with the final bookings, which month is better overall in terms of driving to all those places mentioned in the itinerary and the weather conditions, ( October or November or early December)
Jennifer Dombrowski says
The weather is about the same during that time. December can have more snow, but the weather in Iceland is pretty unpredictable most of the year. You can have all different kinds of weather in the span of a few hours. We’ve driven the Ring Road in September and December/January. You do have more hours of daylight in October as opposed to December, so that is something to take in to consideration.
Lucille says
Thanks for this! Insider info is always more helpful 🙂
Jennifer Dombrowski says
You’re welcome, Lucille! Feel free to let us know if you have other questions about Northern Lights.
Jorge says
Hey! thanks for the tips.
Quick question. My family and i are planning a trip to Kamloops, Canada from the 21 of december throu january 1st.
Do you think there could be any chance we get to see the northern lights in that season?
My sister lives there and told me that some people have said that there are some spots where we might catch them. But i’m not sure if the time could be right.
Thanks for your time!
Katherine Belarmino says
On our first night of Northern Lights they started everywhere but north, They finally did end up being mostly in the north and our guide was so surprised by the direction from which they started.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
The only real sure thing about the Northern Lights is that they’re unpredictable!
Cathy Armato says
Thanks for this information! I didn\’t realize the Northern Lights aren\’t there all the time, Duh! It is definitely on my bucket list, right next to my dream Alaska vacation.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Technically, the Northern Lights are there all the time. We just can only see them when it is dark enough for them to be visible. Since Alaska is your dream vacation, you could combine it with a Northern Lights hunting trip during the winter months!
Diane Marie says
Nope. I live in Northern Wisconsin, on Lake Superior and they are not always there. Every night sky is different. Sometimes it’s so dark, you can’t see your hand in front of your face. Some nights it’s TONS of stars. But when the Northern lights come out, the phones start ringing everywhere in our little town, and everyone runs outside to see them. I’ve even seen restaurants clear out, with food left on plates and on the grill, everyone standing along the street, watching the lights out over the lake!
Dan A. Steinbakk says
Hi 🙂 I work as a northern ligths guide in Tromsø, Norway, and i have just a small correction to the excellent article above:
As long as you are right under the “Aurora oval”, you don`t have to look North to see it. On many of my tours we have been looking in one direction, then suddenly she (yes, the Aurora is a “she” :D) starts dancing behind us! The Aurora oval is like a “highway”, and on that highway, anything could happen! 🙂
Up here in Tromsø, situated right under the oval, we have often had the Aurora explode and cascade all over the sky 😀
PS: This picture i took beside a lake about an hours drive south of Tromøs, looking South. Here you can see the aurora on the Southern sky, coming right above our heads: http://imgur.com/tKHkOni
Anyway: Excellent article and excellent work!
– Dan the Aurora Man 🙂
Arctic Experience AS
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks so much for your insight, Dan! This is why I say it’s best to ask a local. In Abisko and the places we’ve seen them in Iceland, it is true that the Northern Lights almost always start from the North. If there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that the Aurora is unpredictable and anything indeed could happen. Happy hunting and thanks for sharing your wonderful photo with us!
Dan says
My pleasure, and thank you for a great article; I have shared it on my page, so that my future guests can get good knowledge and information about the beauty in the sky ?
And the “green lady” is unpredictable: That`s what makes it so fun hunting her! I use to say that “The Aurora is like a box of chocolate: You never know what you’re gonna get!” ?
Keep up the good work!
All the best,
Dan the Aurora Man ?
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Ha! Love it – “The Aurora is like a box of chocolate: You never know what you’re gonna get!” That is SO true.
J.T. Williams says
One day.
I cannot wait until I get a chance to see them. My preferred spot? The Lofoten Islands! I’ve been entranced with that place since I first saw pictures!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
We really hope you get to see the Northern Lights, J.T. and from Lofoten! They really are a spectacular sight. Even with many times as we’ve seen them now, we’re still always planning our next Aurora hunting trip.
Leigh says
Great tips – I’m obsessed with the Northern Lights ever since I joined a Facebook group of Midwest “hunters” – they post some pretty amazing shots from Northern Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan, which are still 8 hours drive from me…
Jennifer Dombrowski says
You’ve got to plan a trip then, Leigh! I think Northern Lights are much more rare to see in the Midwest, so I’d probably head to Canada if I were you. We haven’t done any Northern Lights hunting on that side of the pond…yet…so unfortunately can’t make any recommendations about where the best places to see them are in North America. Iceland has also become a lot more accessible from the US, so that’s another place you could look in to visiting.
Joel says
Yo. Just saw the aurora tonight from Gardur Lighthouse, about 45 mins SW of Reykjavik, Iceland. Pale grey and beautiful. Cheers! Joel @joelmciver
Kay Dougherty says
This is great info – I”m going back to Iceland in mid-February in hopes of seeing the Northern Lights. I know it may not happen but just in case it does I’m also going to read your piece on photographing them!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hope you get to see the Northern Lights, Kay! What part of Iceland are you visiting and how many days are you staying?
Anne says
I agree with point 8- aurora can be seen when there is a full moon. I just experienced a short few minutes of aurora when it appeared on 26 december 2 hours west wards, outside of reyjkevik. It was infact having snow flurries, thereafter the skies cleared up and we saw the moon. Shortly after, the aurora started Appearing! Our guide was very pesistent and she encouraged us to hang in there and watch for it!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
We’ve been in that situation. Heavy snow falling and completely clouded over skies. But the weather can literally change in the blink of an eye in the Arctic. So persistence is the true key to seeing the Northern Lights. Glad that you go to experience them, Anne!
Sara says
Hi Jennifer!
Thank you so much for your tips 🙂 I’m going to Tromso on the 30th January and I’ll stay until the 1st February. Can I ask you if it’s possible to see the Northern Lights more than once in the same night?
Thank you I can’t wait to arrive there!!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
It’s definitely possible to see the Northern Lights more than once in the same night. They can be visible, look as though they’ve gone away and then come back again.
Be sure you get out of the city. Tromso is quite a large city so it has a lot of light pollution, which can make the Northern Lights hard to see when you don’t know what you’re looking for or if they are faint. We’ve been on this Northern Lights tour from Tromso and they’ll go all the way to the Finnish border looking for a clear spot: http://www.partner.viator.com/en/11835/tours/Tromso/Northern-Lights-Small-Group-Tour-from-Tromso-Including-Photography-Tips/d4362-6723NLBUS
Sara says
We’ll stay in the Camping but maybe there’s still a lot of light… We’ll have to book a tour for sure!
24 days left!!!
Thanks for your help I’ll let you know if I was lucky 🙂
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Definitely do let us know how the trip goes, Sara! Happy hunting!
Sara says
Hi Jennifer!!
Just wanted to let you know that we were very lucky in Tromso 🙂 we were able to see the beautiful northern lights for 3 hours!!! Now I’m back home but definitely I want to repeat this experience.
Thank you for your time,
Sara
Jennifer Dombrowski says
That’s awesome, Sara! I’m so glad that the lights came out to dance for you!
Joan Edmonds says
A friend and I are going to Iceland in a few days. I hope we see the Northern Lights! We have rented a 4×4 so we should be able to find a dark location.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
You will love Iceland, Joan! Happy hunting and let us know if you see the Northern Lights!
Jude says
Hi! We (my husband and two friends) have just returned from a wonderful trip to Iceland today and I am very pleased to say that we were very lucky to get a sighting of the lights on 3 separate nights. However, although I fully understand that the camera lens captures a depth of colour that the eye does not,I have not been able to find out why I on Tuesday 12th January 2016 when the aurora borealis danced across the skies in colours of green, faintly edged with pink (much more vivid on our camera I am told) that I was the only one from our group that saw no colour at all; none, an impressive dancing white ‘cloud-like’ swirl whilst my husband and friends were blessed with an awesome display of colour. The other two nights, the 13th and 14th were only green to the camera and much fainter to the eye but do you know why I was the only person not to get any colour on the night everyone else did?
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Jude, it sounds like the Aurora was faint on the night you all saw it and it appeared green to the others. We’re certainly not experts on the human eye. Perhaps your eyes don’t see the color green in the same way others’ eyes do. Some people are colorblind to only certain colors. Or it could be that the mind sort of plays tricks on us. I remember the very first time I saw it, it appeared white or light gray to me. After I saw it on the preview screen on the camera, I could pick up the green more in the sky.
Taz says
Hi, I loved your pictures of the northern lights and I really want to go and see it. I have no idea however where to book my flights to and where the cheapest hotels are and a good tour group to see the northern lights. I want to go with my husband and 2 kids, so I am on a budget. I was hoping to go in the easter holidays, do you think I could still see it? I would appreciate any advice and suggestions please, thank you x
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Taz, it’s not very likely you’d see the Northern Lights at Easter time. The season is September – March, but by the end of March the days are already much longer and not dark enough to be able to see the Northern Lights. It’s possible to see them, but the chances are far less simply because of too much daylight.
As far as which destination you can reach most affordably, it really depends on where you live and which destinations are most accessible to you.
Daniel Rodriguez says
I saw the northern lights in Abisko. Once from the Aurora Sky station (900 m a.s.l). Twice from the then frozen Tornesträk lake. One thing that absolutely no one is telling you is that the photo can be very misleading. What I saw through naked eye was a beatiful but very dim white-greenish light – the second day rather spectacular, with an arch covering almost half of the sky -, moving, appearing as wedges, then becoming white-greenish curtains. Just one meter ahead of me there were a tourist taking long exposition shots. And the image he got it was something even more unbelieveble, a really strong green cloud hovering above the mountains. Photographs tend to amplify the intensity quite a lot.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Glad to got to see the Northern Lights, Daniel! Yes, we talk extensively about the colors that the Northern Lights appear and how they can often be white or gray in our first 5 Things No One Ever Tells You About the Northern Lights. On a night when they are dim, if you’d never seen them before you could definitely think you’re looking at a weird cloud.
Stella70 says
Yes it’s true that the Northern lights require effort. They aren’t just going to appear every clear night and dance in a kaleidoscope of colours until dawn. I have seen them five times. Once purely by chance from South Wales on 8th November 1991, very bright reds and overhead, spectacular, even Patrick Moore mentioned this display in one of his many books.
I was on Orkney last year and heard that the night I arrived the lights had made an appearance so the next night I walked above the street lights of Stromness at about ten p.m and looked straight towards the Pole Star. I was treated to a greyish white display for about two hours, Really had to adjust my eyes to the dark and be patient, It was a very slow formation, like someone shining the beams of torches into the air or a SLOOOOW heart monitor. The same happened the next night.
I saw them again from Glastonbury in October, very clear and looked like a crazy cloud formation but it was such a clear night there was no way it was a cloud. It looked like a dancer’s skirt or a woman’s knee. I called my friend and she joined me to watch, and we saw the “torch” beams again for a couple of hours, could just pick out faint green and pink colours.
The last time was on Samhain, October 31st, Bitterly cold Halloween evening and my friend and I were walking through a cemetery near Newbury, We saw a very distinct single curved line, again greyish in colour which gradually moved lower in the sky until it faded.
So yes, head out a few hours after dusk, away from Street lights.. Autumn is good!! Look towards the Great Bear and the Pole star, and look LOW. Then wait and be patient. It is not always going to be a multi colured time lapse display, but you will be rewarded for your patience.
rawan says
Hey
I loved your pics and article about the Aurora lights. I live in Dublin and Unfortunately due to my collage life I cant plan a visit to Iceland or Finland more than a weekend ,until, end of may. And I missed the aurora in January where it appeared in Iceland. So I was wondering if I have any chance to travel on a weekend or do I need more than 3 nights? to reach a good destination for aurora hunting ( of course i understand that I might not be lucky to see them at all) but I need a second opinion from someone knowledgable like you. Plus, is it true after 2016 it will start to disappear?
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Rawan, if all you have is a weekend and you can get away then it’s worth a shot. There are no guarantees even if you stay three nights. You really won’t be able to see the Northern Lights for much longer this season. The end of March is pretty much the last of the season as the days just begin to get too long and it’s not dark enough.
And no, the Northern Lights are not going to disappear. The sun is reaching the end of its 11 year solar cycle though and the Northern Lights will appear less because the sun won’t have as much activity.
Stella70 says
This is going to sound like a lie, or a boast or whatever, but I have just seen the lights again. From Glastonbury. Because I posted here a few days ago and have been renewing my interest, I found out today that the aurora put on a good display in Britain last night. So even though astronomers said it was unlikely to happen again tonight, and bla di bla, I have been “On watch” since half seven tonight. I can just see the Northern horizon from my living room window, and despite a few clouds to the South and West we had a clear and cold night tonight. So I observed a very horizontal greyish line at half seven, looked like the lights to me, but wasn’t sure, it was still there an hour later, but joined by a corresponding horizontal line above it, and a glow to the right. I watched for a while, it was not behaving in a cloud like way, but nothing great, so I was about to retire to bed. But on a hunch I did not, I left the house at ten to nine and OMG. There was a HUGE white streak to the right, a massive “cloud” formation directly under the Pole Star (Shaped like a hand with fingers splayed) and various beams to the left and right. As I have observed before, beams carry far across the sky to East and West, and tonight there were a few at opposing angles. At one point a totally random curved wisp just appeared in the East and then went as quickly.
You can watch it for hours but it changes in such a subtle but distinct way, it isn’t the time lapse dance always or the rapid ripple, but it is SO obvious what it actually is.
Very Pleased.
Next stop, I need to learn to photograph it!!
Akriti Shrestha says
hey, this post is very informative and the pictures in here are amazing. Will definitely keep them in mind when i plan a visit to see the Northern Lights. 🙂 Thanks.
Stella70 says
Seeing the lights is not as simple as folk believe. (that does make them special, of course) It does make me sad for others when I read reviews of excursions on Tripadvisor where people have spent thousands and yet seen nothing, or not realised that the aurora can look very much like a cloud until you stay and watch it for some time. I have been interested in Astronomy since a young age and know enough about constellations etc to know even which direction to look in. That sounds obvious, but a group of us drove out to the Ring Of Brodgar on Orkney one crystal clear night at ten p.m to look for the lights. Some of our party did not know how to find the Pole Star, I was happy to point it out to them, as the lights will always start in this direction. Unfortunately it was a crystal clear night but COLD, even in mid September and although we observed the beginning of the lights as a low greyish arc in the North with the sloooow heart monitor effect starting at midnight, some of the party were a bit disappointed and cold and wanted to leave.. I’m afraid I said “You’re watching the Aurora Borealis in The Ring of Brodgar on Orkney, what do you want?? The Moon on a stick??” That made them laugh but we left, I for one was not walking back alone in the cold for miles.
Photos on this site and in general of the lights are stunning, as are time lapse videos, but folk need to realise that although bright colours can appear (1991 was red, so red!!) the lights are often greyish, or a very barely discernable green, and everyone sees them differently. Have managed to pick out pink and yellow shades before, but it does require being away from any light pollution and being incredibly patient. Also they do dance, but definitely not in the way folk think.
I must learn to drive a jeep, learn to photgraph them (that’s my next plan) and take folk Aurora hunting!!!
Good luck with seeing them!! They’re worth it!!
Stella70 says
I stand corrected, apparently one can see the lights in any direction, I’m not quite an expert yet ( I had a look at “5 MORE things no one tells you about the Northern Lights)
All good, I am forming an obsession with them, I have photographer friends who will teach me how to capture the beauty 🙂
Tina says
Not sure I am in the right place to ask these questions… We are trying to calculate our best place to see the Northern Lights anytime between Dec. 24 until Jan. 2. Any thoughts?
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Tina! Unfortunately, no one can give you an answer to where you can see the Northern Lights between December 24 and January 2. It’s impossible to predict their activity, which is based on the sun’s solar flares. And if those conditions are good to produce Northern Lights, it’s also impossible to predict the weather because you also need clear skies.
I can tell you that the Arctic receives the bulk of its snow in December and January so weather is just less stable.
As we talked about in this article, you just have to pick a destination because you’re interested in it and has activities (other than seeing the Northern Lights) that you want to do. If you happen to see the Northern Lights, you count yourself lucky that you did.
All that said, we believe Abisko, Sweden is one of the best places for a good chance to see the Northern Lights because of its micro-climate. https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/best-place-in-europe-to-see-northern-lights/
Daniel says
Abisko: no or few clouds, away from lights. Fancy places to rest [STK – swedish mountain club]. Good access – short trip by train from Kiruna.
As others have said NL are really unpredictable – we was frantic looking at Aurora forecast – but we could see them three nights in a row. Be alert the whole thing lasted half hour in my case.
to Jennifer: great blog!
Hannah says
Hi Jennifer,
Your blog is so informative and real, your pictures are stunning. Would you allow me to share this very helpful & informative information on my fb page as I am starting my own Northern Light tour this winter coming.
Thanks for a great read either way 🙂
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Hannah,
Glad to hear you enjoyed it! Certainly feel free to share on your FB Page. Where are you starting your own Northern Lights tour?
Keli M says
Here in Minnesota, USA, we see them with some regularity, as long as you’re not in the city. My husband and son were on Lake of the Woods (border lake between US and Canada) in March several years ago ice fishing in March. After midnight, they stepped out of the ice house and noticed the northern lights. They took out folding chairs and sat on the ice with the lights appearing to dance on the ice around them. It’s an experience both of them share with stars in their eyes.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks for sharing, Keli! You’re lucky to live in a spot where there’s not light pollution and can step outside to see the Northern Lights.
Maureen says
Jennifer, thanks for your post, very informative. I am thinking of coming to see the Northern Lights from United States and have a hard time selecting which country to go to. Will end of October be a good time? As you said even though I really want to see the Northern Lights, I need to adjust myself and tell myself that it is an added bonus. Being said that, which country should I visit? I heard a lot about Reykjavik but is afraid of too much tourist. I want to join the tour since I am traveling with people in their 60s, but don’t want to stay in the tourist area. Any suggestions?
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Maureen, it really depends. If the Northern Lights is your ultimate goal then I would recommend Abisko, Sweden. Just know that at the end of October, there won’t be much snow for winter activities like dog sledding. https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/best-place-in-europe-to-see-northern-lights/
Iceland will be nice in October. It’s shoulder season when the summer and early fall tourists have left. Winter isn’t huge in Iceland just because a lot of people get nervous over Iceland’s unpredictable weather. It will still be quite nice in October, but in Iceland you can have every type of weather all in the same day. There’s a lot to see and do, so you definitely won’t be disappointed. I wouldn’t recommend staying in Reykjavik for more than a night or two though, especially if you want to see the Northern Lights. There’s just too much light pollution and the Northern Lights aren’t seen in the city unless there is an extremely powerful solar storm.
Here’s our recommendations for all of Iceland: https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/iceland-ring-road-itinerary/
Albert says
We are two people from Chile we will be at Reykjavik the nights 19, 20, 24, 25, 26 august 2016 and we want to see the northern lights on a private tour to a good place
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Alberto,
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it is extremely unlikely that you will see the Northern Lights in August. For the dates you’ll be in Iceland, sunset still is not until 11pm and sunrise is at 4am. It doesn’t get dark enough during the “dark” hours to see the Northern Lights at this time of year. Northern Lights tours don’t even start running until the end of September for this reason.
While it’s almost certain you won’t see the Northern Lights, Iceland has a lot of other things to offer. You’ll have an incredible time!
David says
We have just booked to go to Reykjavik on 5th February 2017 for three nights. I really hope we do see the Aurora but if not we’ll just have to go back another day!!
Angela says
Enjoying the Northern Lights article!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Glad to hear it, Angela!
Kellie says
Im a bit gutted after reading this now ? we go iceland on the 27th dec till the 30th for my partners birthday ,as he as always wanted go on the tour to see the light but look like were in the wrong place to see them, as any 1 see them in december ? x
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Kellie,
Of course it’s possible to see the Northern Lights in Iceland in December! The weather is just a bit stormier than other months, but there is always a chance. You’ll have an amazing trip no matter if you see the Aurora or not. Iceland is stunning and never disappoints!
Ása says
Hey guys! 🙂
I loved your blog about the northern lights. This year, it has been a really high Northern Light activity in Iceland.
I saw the strongest northern lights ever late August this year! It was a magical night because it was unreal watching them dance across the sky on a warm summer night 🙂
Last week I also got a chance to join a northern light boat tour! That’s something I would truly recommend. It left from the local harbour in Reykjavík, we were sitting the whole night inside playing cards and drinking hot chocolate. Then the guide asked us to run out and the whole sky was lit up by the northern lights. We sat on the deck for one hour enjoying the show!
Lynne says
Trying to see northern lights and believe ending of solar maximus soon with Iceland in January 2017 best time. Otherwise would Finland be possible when?
Jennifer Dombrowski says
The Northern Lights are the same as far as the solar maximum in Iceland, Finland, Norway and Sweden. You have the potential to see the Northern Lights in any of these destinations from September – March. Just realize that January is one of the worst months with the heaviest snowfall in all of these places, so you tend to experience more cloud cover and weather that prevent you from seeing the Northern Lights due to lack of clear skies. But, like we said, the Northern Lights and Arctic weather are 100% unpredictable. So pick your destination based upon the one you want to see most and other activities available, that way you aren’t disappointed if you don’t see the Northern Lights.
Nessa Harrison says
hi thank you for giving out travel tips. borealis hunting is top of my list. I have a question. when i read that sightings are from September to March, does it mean all of March? like when I see October to April, will that be all of April? thank you for clarifying and please keep the travel tips coming. I always say I’m a “backpacker not a home packer” everyone else around me wants to buy a house, I want to buy experiences like these!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Not, not necessarily. The days are getting much longer already in March in the Arctic. The key to being able to see the Northern Lights is darkness and when there are only a few hours of darkness, the chances of seeing the Northern Lights are greatly reduced. You may get lucky in April, but I don’t recommend planning a trip to see the Northern Lights then.
Snehak says
I am planning a trip to Finland in February. Can anyone help with the best places to sight the Northern Lights in Finland?
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Anywhere above the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland. Rovaniemi is extremely popular with the Santa Claus village there. You can stay in the glass igloos at Kakslauttanen Resort http://www.booking.com/hotel/fi/hotelli-kakslauttanen.html?aid=1143113. There is also the snow hotel at Kemi. http://www.booking.com/hotel/fi/lumihotelli.html?aid=1143113
Basically, you want to stay outside of the big cities like Oulu for easy Northern Lights viewing.
Erin says
Awesome photos and advice. We always hope that travelers we send to Iceland between September and March get to see the Northern Lights, but we always fill their itineraries with suggestions for so many other things to do that the Northern Lights would hopefully feel like a bonus, as you say.
José Manuel says
Hi I’m writing from México. The dream of my life is to watch an aurora, but the trip is very expansive for me and my wife, so we only have one shot to see it. In wich place we have more chances to see an aurora and wich month of the year? Don’t care to put up with the blistering cold or anything just want to see the aurora. We were thinking about Tromso or Reykiavik in september for ten or twelve days, What do you recommend us??
PD. Your post is great!! I hope to do someday as muchs trips as you have done.
Ian says
Yellowknife in Canada is an excellent place for aurora hunting and the end of September would be a good time. Apparently equinoxes are the best time of year and this year will be September 22nd. Don’t plan your holiday purely on the aurora because if you don’t see it your holiday will be boring and disappointing. Plan for some activities and sight seeing and have some aurora forecast websites bookmarked on your phone to keep track of storm activity. Take a good DSLR camera as the auroras I saw in Finland last year were very disappointing to the naked eye but looked amazing when shot with a long exposure.
Therie says
Your photos are simply AMAZING! Especially the last one with the horses. Absolutely worth the chase!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thank you, Therie! Have you seen the Northern Lights in person?
Jadey Bee says
There are certain combinations that are favourable for seeing the Aurora, although of course it is unpredictable and the advice to not just go to see Aurora only is excellent – think of it as a bonus and you won’t be disappointed.
That being said, the factors include: –
1.. Darkness – to be able to see the Aurora when/if it happens – this means not going in the summer months where the daytime is very long. September to March is considered Aurora season. It also means going out of light polluted areas, so heading into the countryside
2. Cold, clear, crisp weather, no precipitation (rain or snow etc) – again partly this is a visibility issue. Cloud-cover will kill your attempts to view Auroras. Some months in the September – March season like January can be a bit dodgy because it snows a lot, and there is cloud.
3. It is said (though I don’t know how much scientific basis for this there is) that the equinoxes can be the best times to view Auroras.
4. Solar maximum helps. Also, if you are lucky, solar flares will also boost Aurora visibility (although of course you can’t really predict these).
I can’t comment about Finland, Norway or Sweden, but I had a very successful Aurora-hunting trip in the Reykjavik area of Iceland. I chose late Feb-early March because of the combination of factors above, being near the equinox as well. The weather was pretty much perfect, with no precipitation most days, clear cold skies.
I also went with an experienced off-road company who specialise in Aurora tours (www.superjeep.is) whom I cannot recommend highly enough. Their super-jeeps can go where normal cars, even normal 4WD cars and certainly tourist buses can’t go. Their drivers are experienced Aurora hunters and while they cannot promise they will find you Auroras to look at on a single given night, they will give you the best chance to see one or more if they are there to be seen.
Also, consider how used to driving around on snow/ice you are. If you are and have a 4WD vehicle, of course feel free but be safe. If you are from warmer countries and have little experience driving in very wintry conditions, I would highly recommend going with a professional tour company like superjeep.is who will take good care of you and the driving side, and you can concentrate on enjoying the scenery.
I did this and even though I am an experienced driver with a 4WD vehicle and not totally unfamiliar with winter weather driving, I enjoyed the experience more for being with this tour group. I was especially lucky as we had a solar flare on the night we went out, so the whole sky was full of Auroras!
Sometimes you won’t see the Auroras in the colours you expect; sometimes they are grey-white but under long exposure photography you can see the brilliant greens, purples, reds and blues that you might be expecting. If someone takes a long-exposure photo of you with the Aurora in the background under these conditions, shine a torch *briefly* into your face for a short period of the shot, so that you’re properly illuminated against the backdrop (unless you’re going for the artsy silhouette look).
Enjoy, people!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks for all your insights, Jadey. We’ve discussed all of these, though that it needs to be cold is a myth. It does not need to be cold, and in fact, the Aurora is present all year round. It’s just that, as you said, it does need to be dark in order to observe it.
joseph says
Wow, what a stunning set of photographs!! the northern lights.
Deepal says
So so so informative! We have planned a trip to Kittila and Rovanemi and North Norway (Alta , Tromso, Nordkapp) , Kiruna at end of Oct looking dates around the dark nights. We have seen multiple reviews online that It might not be good time, possibility of being cloudy. After reading your blog, it’s a huge relief.
Thank you so much !
Anne Madow says
I am planning on being in Oslo mid October. I decided to do an add on to see the Northern Lights. I am now getting very confused. It seems like Tromsco is good but that Abisko would be better. What are your thoughts on this?
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Anne,
If your goal is to see the Northern Lights, then yes, we recommend Abisko. It has a micro-climate that gives it much more stable weather than anywhere else in the European Arctic. Have you read our article about Abisko? https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/best-place-in-europe-to-see-northern-lights/
That said, in mid-October Tromso will have more to do during the daytime as there’s not enough snow yet (if at all) for the typical Lapland activities like dog sledding and snowmobiling. It’s a major city of Northern Norway with a lot of restaurants, museums and the like. https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/things-to-do-in-tromso-norway/
Anne Madow says
I did a lot of research. On trip advisor, they said the lights chasers in Tromco are great and pretty much get you to see them. I looked at reviews from last October. They may keep you out until 3 AM. There is a network of people in touch with one another to find them. They are willing to travel far to get to see them. I booked Wed., Oct. 11 with Arctic Adventure
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Good luck! Yes, most tour companies in Tromso will take you to the Finnish border where it tends to more clear, but it’s not all that far to the Finnish border. There’s never any guarantee and the Northern Lights don’t appear every night. There can be weeks with nothing. Just have your expectations set and it will be a real bonus if and when you do see them.
We’re headed back to Iceland again for the fifth time next week and always have these expectations.
Anne Madow says
From what I have read online, most people had clouds and the chasers found the breaks. Fingers crossed. At least I saw Eclipse “Totality” – that was ultra cool
Jennifer Dombrowski says
It was definitely cloudy when we saw the Northern Lights outside of Tromso.
Very cool that you got to see the total eclipse! We, unfortunately, couldn’t see anything really here in Europe.
Joe B says
Fairbanks, Alaska has been the best place so far for me. I usually capture great pictures over the pond but Alaska Oct 2016 has been the best so far. I shoot with my Nikon D810A with the 14mm-24mm for the best results. Iceland is a nice place to go as well since my friend lives there. Finland, Sweden, and Norway are also excellent countries to visit.
My typical exposures in Alaska on the Dalton Highway were 1-2 secs verses 8-10 here in NE Montana 6 miles South of the Saskatchewan border. One bucket list item is to see the Southen lights in Tasmania or Antarctica.
Northern lights trip says
This photos are amazing and I love the trip about staying at a place that has wake up service But really cool. Beautiful pictures by the way!
Andy Baluca says
Loved the article. Any chance you can tell me which farms you stayed on? Looking to do that next March 2018 with a few friends (total of 6). Thanks in advance for the assistance.
Andy=)
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Andy,
Sure. Which country are you planning to visit?
Martin says
Hi, Jennifer 🙂
Well done! Very well written summary. I’m a guide in Rovaniemi and I also want to help people plan their Aurora trips in advance. I agree with you that people should focus on the destination rather on Aurora.
Kind regards,
Martin
Silvy W says
The best place ever!!! On top of the frozen Great Slave lake in Yellowknife Canada!!!
In February you can see them almost every night.
Silvy
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Yellowknife has been on our bucket list for a winter trip!
Archie Murphy says
The photos were all gorgeous and the lights and stars look so stunning. Thank you for sharing this with us. I’ve realized that my expectations were too much. Because I can’t go there yet, I keep feeding myself with blogs like this.
Nita says
Great article. I heard Fairbanks, Alaska is a good way to go. If not then I will head to sweden or norway.
Thank you :)!
Julia says
Super helpful tips! We thought that it’s almost impossible to see aurora borealis during full moon – thanks for revealing this misconception! We learned from many other travelers that it’s so important to go for the destinatino and not only for the northern lights.
This article helps a lot to get prepared for a northern lights adventure.
Amazing content!
Rajae says
So realistic. I like the idea of should go for the destination not only for the aurora. I plan to go to norway this winter solo trip, but i don’t have much time for this trip, i hope if i could see the aurora so clear.
Thanks for this article.
Rajae
A_J says
Born in southern Finland and got to see northern lights in southern Finland! Warm summer night, thankfully it was dark enough.
Sandeep Nath says
Thanks for a very useful and eminently readable article. Shared.
Since i couldn’t read the plethora of comments and replies maybe you have answered this but indulge me please… has the lowest solar radiation spell started already? Am asking because you mentioned it is approaching quite some years ago.
Also wondering why you did not choose Alta… it is right up tgere in the north and has little habitation around, implying quicker access to darkness. Why Tromso, not Alta?
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Sandeep,
Yes, we are in the solar minimum period. Obviously the Northern Lights have not disappeared and one of the best sightings in years was just recorded this March 2019, It’s just that the solar activity is less frequent.
Why didn’t we choose Alta? We were visiting Svalbard and you need to fly from Tromso to reach Svalbard. There’s no “quicker” access to darkness in Alta vs. Tromso, though. Sunrise and sunset are the same time and even in practically uninhabited places like Abisko in Sweden, there is still light pollution.
Michael says
Thanks for very helpful advice. I saw the Lights two nights ago near Tromso, while at sea, and the Bridge said they were the best he had seen. But though they were in a great arc across the sky, they were a dull cloudy colour and I was mightily disappointed, and thought is that it, and thought you maybe needed a fancy camera. So your advice that they are sometimes that colour and to persist is really good news. Will follow your blog.
Michael
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Cameras can capture the light spectrum far better than our eye, so Northern Lights will never appear in the sky to your naked eye as they do in photographs or even video. Gray-ish in color is quite common and even gray-green. But sometimes there are explosions of color that are brighter. You just have to keep watching!
Michael says
Dear Jennifer and Tim,
I really appreciate your prompt and very helpful reply. Thanks. I did see the Lights again the next night in the harbour of Alta, Norway and did see some green. Alta has had a great few nights of the Lights. Other travellers on this cruise have told me they saw great colours, green and red on a different trip some time back. So will both get a good camera, but not too expensive, and also keep looking with the naked eye on other trips!
All good wishes,
Michael
Sam says
Oh how I love the northern lights!
I always freaked out when I saw an article saying ‘Last time to see the northern lights!’. I always thought I would miss out, lol…
I’ve seen them twice now, and just like you say: they’re extremely unpredictable.
My first time I saw them three of four days that I was in Tromsø (Norway). In Iceland I didn’t see them once during a week trip and in the Lofoten (Norway) I saw them only on one occasion during a ten day trip!
Even if you don’t get to see them, the landscapes of these countries are pretty much always gorgeous. So it’s only a reason to visit again 😉
Sam
Amit says
Hi Jennifer,
This is very informative and well articulated ! Thank you for
My wife and I are planning to be in Norway in last week of October this year and we would like to head to Tromso to glimpse of the Northern lights.
Hope we don’t get disappointed… 🙂
I am bookmarking this page for now..
Amit.
Aparna verma says
This is an amazing blog to read. Thanks for the share.
The northern lights are just beautiful to watch.
I wish I could make it to Norway one day.
Thanks for the share, Cheers!!
Angie Woodock says
Any chance any of you have seen the Northern Lights in Alaska? We are planning to attend the world champion ice sculpting championship this year while chasing the northern lights. Any recommendations or tips would be appreciated.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Angie,
Fairbanks is a good place to attempt to see the Northern Lights. All the exact same tips apply for Aurora hunting in Alaska. Best of luck!
Sarah Lovely says
Very informative article. We had the most fabulous holiday, we saw Aurora Borealis, learnt dog sledding, snow shoeing, snow-machining. The train trip from Anchorage to Fairbanks was breathtakingly beautiful – we saw many moose and caribou and Bettles Lodge was absolutely loved. Since we wanted to combine the northern lights viewing with activities, we ended up booking a package. Part of the package was the Alaska Railroad Tour from Anchorage and we enjoyed it very much. Everything worked out very smooth and I am looking forward to return in a couple of years to Alaska.
Jacob says
Hello, I am doing some research on the Northern Lights for a project, and was wondering if you could tell me when you first published this article (couldn’t find the publish date), and what other sources you used besides your own experiences. This information would be really helpful.
Trip Affleck says
I lived in Iceland for several years in the late 80s and early 90s. I saw the lights many times, and was entranced by the languid, sometimes almost imperceptible flowing movement of them; but virtually every video i find online has the movement sped up unrealistically. why is it so difficult to record video of the lights at their ordinary speed of movement?
Jocelyn Fernandez says
I will be in Vancouver B.C. at the end of December. Where would be the best place to hopefully view the northern lights?
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Jocelyn,
It’s pretty rare that the Northern Lights are seen in Vancouver because it is located way too far south at a latitude of only 49°. Only a rare occasion of a very strong Aurora display is it ever seen that far south. You’d need to visit the Aurora belt, which starts around 67° latitude in places in Northern Canada like Manitoba.
Gabriele Valentina says
Hello jeniffer! I am a newbie at NL hunting.
So we book our tickets to copenhagen and oslo on early April. Then after 10 days we would like to hunt for NL. Can you please recommend us the best place to find NL – as a NL expert? Because we only have time for one place. Would it be Sweden or Iceland? Thank you so much
Cy Johnson says
One of the most informative articles regarding Northern Lights I have read. I am a late bloomer traveler and one of the items on my “life wishes” list is to see the Northern Lights. In your article u said to pick destination as oppose to seeing NL. I have chosen Tromso, Norway. I want to plan for Sept. I will be traveling solo. Are there any travel tours you recommend? Thank you so much for your valuable tips on NL and photography.
R/S
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Cynthia,
Thanks so much for your kind words!
I think you’ll really enjoy Tromsø. We’ve been there several times and I’ve been there solo without Tim. The Norwegians are very friendly.
There’s a lot to do in Tromsø. It won’t quite be winter when you visit in September, but that is a lovely time of year since the days are still long and you have the possibility to see Northern Lights.
Here’s some things to do in Tromsø, including a Northern Lights tour that is great. https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/things-to-do-in-tromso-norway/
Cheryl M says
Hello and thanks for this fantastic blog!!!
Do you know where information about solar activity is published on the web?
Also, the 11-year cycle, is that recorded anywhere on line?
I’m considering a short trip first week of March either to Norway, Sweden or Finland depending on flight prices. Any suggestions for the best place to go?
Many thanks in advance!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! 😉
Laura H says
I’ve read a few articles/web sites that the Solar Cycle will be at its maximum around 2024-2026. Most say it’s still worth trying to see them any year, especially August-April.
samy says
Awesome tips and shots! We still have yet to see the Northern Lights ourselves.
Delena says
You mention in your article “10 Things no one tells you…” that the Solar life cycle lasts about 11 years and that the lights were not “going away” but were going to get less active due to the sun approaching its solar minimum. I can’t find the year this was written so I’m wondering if the cycle has a solar maximum and when that might be. We were hoping to see them somewhere in the next year. I appreciate the information in your article because most places offering trips to see the lights make it sound like its a sure thing. Realistic expectations are a much better way to ensure enjoyment overall.
Elle says
It’s as easy as googling “solar minimum vs solar maximum”, and looking at the information provided on a reputable website. (news site, NASA, weather website). It’s at it’s lowest right now. Solar maximum is predicted for 2023-2026, but even then it might happen later as even NASA who predicted solar max to occur in 2010 was incorrect as it occurred in 2014. Check https://www.nasa.gov/feature/ames/solar-activity-forecast-for-next-decade-favorable-for-exploration
Francis Lavoie says
You could also see the northern lights in the summer time! We’ve has them here in Nunavik, QC Canada on the 24th of July!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
It would be very rare as the summers experience long hours of daylight, which is why we don’t recommend summertime for a Northern Lights hunter. But very cool that you were able to spot them at the end of July!
Lexa says
Hi! I was talking to someone about their trip to Finland in 2016 where they saw the northern lights. They told me every 8 years (I think) they’ll be at their brightest. This would bring it to 2024 which I’ve been planning to visit then to see them but I can’t find any information on the topic. Has anyone heard of this or can confirm or deny this? If it is true is it just in Finland or other countries as well?
Geoffrey Neumann says
Why is there never any mention of Murmansk in the English speaking media when it comes to Northern Lights? Maybe because it’s too much hassle getting a Russian VISA just to visit one place but especially if you want to combine it into a NW Russia trip (Saint Petersburg, Kizhi etc.) it’s a great destination! Other places in the Murmansk area like Teriberka are absolutely stunning and even the city itself has a certain bleak, exotic appeal. It’s the largest city North of the Arctic circle, off the beaten path for Westerners and very Russian. I don’t know how it compares to Tromso etc. but would probably give you a rather different experience. It does however have a surprisingly well established arctic tourism industry (Northern lights, reindeer sleigh, husky sleigh, Saami village visit) that is well known it seems to East Asians but Europeans mostly forget about it. Cheaper once you’re there too. English is of course limited but not non existent if you do your research before hand and people were friendly if you do know a bit of Russian.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Geoffrey! Thanks for mentioning Murmansk! It sounds like a really interesting destination and we have enjoyed our previous visits to Russia. As you said, Russia is a difficult to visit country for Americans and that’s probably exactly the reason Murmansk isn’t mentioned. Destinations tend to cater to certain markets and it sounds like Murmansk isn’t doing so to the American market currently. But it also sounds like one of those great off-the-beaten-path places to check out. Maybe someday when it’s safe to travel again…
Jhon says
Awesome tips and shots! We still have yet to see the Northern Lights ourselves.
Trisha says
Visting Iceland on 3rd week of October ‘2021 to see Northern Lights. Could you please recommend some places from where there is high chances to see northern lights. Would be capturing Photos as well. Staying on North side of Iceland is recommeded or we can see aurora lights from Reykjavik or Vik as well?
20th October being a full moon day hoping to see norther lights first time in my life. as well.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Trisha, we’ve got all of that information in our guide to Northern Lights in Iceland: https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/guide-to-northern-lights-in-iceland/
Jordan Cantrell says
I’ve been fascinated with learning more about the Northern Lights since introducing it to my third grade class years ago. It was helpful to read these facts! Contrary to many beliefs, temperature does not affect the sighting of the lights. I was aware of the altitude determining the color of the lights, but I enjoyed learning the altitude for each color displayed. I have long to await the experience of witnessing this phenomenon, but the helpful tips of precipitation and weather are great indicators of planning! Thank you for sharing your passion and the fun facts.
William Adams says
Great article, thanks so much! I am currently in Ellison Bay, Wisconsin to try and shoot the lights. Unfortunately, we are experiencing snow and cloudy conditions but hoping for breaks during peak hours. Your article helped with expectations so I am glad I came across this. Yay!
Kass says
Hi,
So you wrote this in 2013? And it’s now 2022.
You talked about the N Lights diminishing. I understood the reason. But has that time come? It’s 9 years later. I’m thinking of going to
Yellowknife, NWT, Canada In November 2022 to see the N Lights. Should I still take this Bucket List trip or choose something else?
Thanks 🙏🏼
Jennifer Dombrowski says
The sun is already in a new solar cycle. NASA believes the sun will have increasing solar flares and activity until it reaches a peak in the cycle around 2025. So with increasing solar activity, Northern Lights should be stronger and visible more often.