Northern lights

[devuskums]

Dh has a big birthday next year and has said he would like to see the Northern Lights. I have absolutely no idea where to start looking ... I don't know anything about them. Has anybody got any tips or experience they could tell me please?

Went to Iceland for new year and to chase northern lights for DH’s 40th. Didn’t see them (always wrong place wrong time).

Had a stop over there August bank holiday weekend and couldn’t move for them, right over the city.

It’s usually luck unless you go somewhere very north of the Arctic circle.

It's complete luck. You can stay a whole week and not see anything or get really lucky.

I went to Iceland in a January to see them but it snowed constantly so didn't get to see them.

We went to Reykjavik the end of September and saw them every night.
We were staying by the port and one night we went down there. It was amazing. We were staying in an Airbnb and the owner texted us and told us they would be spectacular that night.
I think it’s just luck, I’ve spoken to people who have been many times and never seen them.

The Isle of Lewis has some keen aurora watchers, particularly at the north of the island (Ness).

www.visitouterhebrides.co.uk/see-and-do/landscape/northern-lights

storiesmysuitcasecouldtell.com/2014/03/01/admiring-the-aurora-borealis-from-the-isle-of-lewis/

I was brought up on Lewis and did see them myself when I was younger (and didn't know what the fuss was about!). They're better caught on camera - not normally as impressive or easy to see with the naked eye, although it can be done.

As a side for a big birthday I would go there anyway. We went for my kids 18th. It’s an amazing place to go and have great experiences

We see them here in Northern Canada regularly, even in limited summer dark skies. And they’re very visible with the naked eye.

Iceland or Norway are your best bets. As others have said, they’re not guaranteed and cloud cover or snow will hamper your chances.

I lived nine years in Orkney and saw them so often,, Utterly magical . They are audible too. I used to go out and stand in wellies in thick mud gazing rapt at the display... drat... tears..

We went to Northern Finland, and were lucky enough to see them. They were just behind the hotel.

Apparently the best time to see them is when it isn't a full moon. Also, going in February we had 8 hours of daylight so we could see and explore properly.

@devuskums I'd throughly recommend Tromso in Norway. And a northern lights tour by minibus not coach (mini bus means they can do a proper northern light chase) with guide Gunnar.

This was the company we used

https://www.nordicexperience.co.uk/norway/winter/northern-lights-experience

Guide Gunnar http://www.guide-gunnar.no/?aid=5294&acc_parent=1

Gunnar does a blog detailing the success of his chases ggaurora.blogspot.co.uk/?m=1

We ended up in Finland on our chase, seeing the lights was a magical experience. My parents visited Iceland twice and didn't see them, did exactly the same package as us with the same guide and saw them in Tromso!

Our experiences (mid-Dec to early Feb)
Iceland- a bit hit and miss
Finland (Yllas region) - saw most nights on 2 separate trips, but tend to be best near midnight/ early hours.

I do want to see them too. Tried very hard but no luck

Great trip to Sweden. Stayed at the ice hotel and did excursions out to see them such as snow mobile to the middle of nowhere, another dog sledding. Completely nowhere so pitch black, nothing to interfere with seeing them - except the lights didn’t happen

Second leg of the trip was overnight at the base of Aurora sky station with a fabulous dinner up at the top of the mountain. Sky was over cast, no lights could be seen

Next trip was to iceland. Three night stay, excursions out to see the lights. Over cast each night, no lights.

Amazing trips. Saw and experienced fabulous things but saw no northern lights. Going to try Finland next.

My children would both love to see them- is anywhere particularly recommended for Dec/Jan? We're v much tied to school holidays.

Tromso in Norway! We went out with a group tour and they drove us over the border to Finland, we saw them two or three times that night. It was amazing! Tromso itself was fine, a couple of really nice restaurants and pubs, but we only stayed there a few days. We flew from Oslo which was an AMAZING city!

Oh and we went right at the start of the season so we were super lucky to see them. It was the last week in October, no snow but very clear skies.

Have a look at this website for information and links.
spaceweather.com/

My DH and I saw them in Finland up by Lake Inari, December time, even though it was a full moon. We did dog sledding and snow mobiling. It was a wonderful holiday. We took the kids to Iceland in October a couple of years ago. We drove round the bottom part of Iceland and saw them in Skaftafell, again was fantastic! It is just luck, we met a lady who had been to Iceland 12 times and never seen them.

Thank you!
That poor woman @StElwicks 12 times!

@CovidPassQuestion

My children would both love to see them- is anywhere particularly recommended for Dec/Jan? We're v much tied to school holidays.

We went in February half term, so we had daylight as well. It was utterly brilliant.

We went to Iceland in March a few years ago and went on a trip to find them. Our driver was amazing and managed to drive to somewhere where they were visible. It wasn’t a complete clear night generally but we saw them!

It can be very hit and miss and won’t ever be guaranteed.

I would love to see them . I think I would either try Iceland or Norway. But as other folk have said it’s complete luck.
In Scotland you have to go to a dark skies area. There are some on Skye and I think you can see them on Shetland. You can also see them from the North East Coast in places like Lossiemouth.
There are apps that will forecast when they are likely to occur. Do you need to book in advance or are you in a position of being able to book last minute and drive up North . You could then watch out for a good solar storm and set off

We went to Tromso in early December and saw them. It was a really fantastic holiday.

We saw them when we went to the IceHotel for our silver wedding. And mother-of-Pearl clouds.

Thanks so much for all the info. Off to look up Tromso right away!

I live in Trondheim Norway. We had them over our house on Saturday night. A lot of people will say go in December or January, but the problem is the skies are usually cloudy because of the snow. You need clear, dark cold skies and a KP index of about 5 or above (you can get an aurora forecast app). The best time of year is September/ October or February/ March. I usually see them every year around the middle of September. Family have visited in December for years and never seen them. If you’re going to visit Trømso, I would try September as the skies will be clearer. But it is pure luck and depends on when the solar flares hit.
Feel free to pm me and I’ll be happy to help :)