Northen Lights

[Firefly86]

I'll paste from another thread I posted in :

I'm off to Alaska this year to see the Northern Lights =)
I'm not an expert on the issue but I have done a lot of research on the lights.

I basically didn't wanna fly half way across the world without assurances.

Check out the following link :

http://www.gedds.alaska.edu/AuroraForecast/

If you want the highest possible chance of seeing the lights, I recommend basing your holiday in a town directly underneath the centre band of the aurora. I'm going to a cabin called Bettles Lodge just north of Fairbanks Alaska in November =), it lies directly underneath and boasts a 95% chance of viewing if you stay for 3 nights

Also try and go between September - March =)

The only thing I'm worried about which unfortunately is out of my control is the weather, you could be extremely unlucky and have a cloudy week and not see anything *crosses fingers*

Good Luck xD

 

[tim_enchanter]

I've watched them while I was in Rovaniemi in Finland (just about on the Arctic Circle with a Santas village on the line), absolutely stunning each and every time you see them. I can't really give you too much advice about when to look out for them but they were pretty common if you were outside any time between about 22:00 and 02:00, some nights were obviously better than others. If you do think about going to Rovaniemi I can point you in the direction of a couple of pubs/nightclubs worth seeing, however direct flights might be a bit expensive and if you go to Helsinki then Rovaniemi the train takes the best part of a full day.

I've done just that, was rather gutted at the time as it was cloudy the 3 nights I was there. Going husky sledding made up for it though

 

[Bill101]

this site used to be good for solar activity.It does very much depend on chance. There are a couple of flights from John Lennon airport in November up to the arctic circle to try and view them.
http://kate.nic.ualberta.ca:8000/portal/rt_oval/
My other half say the Northern Lights while on the Finnish Russian border, it looked like a curtain of coloured smoke.

 

[Mister_Pister]

I know that the further north you go the more chance you will get to see them, I have been looking at flights to iceland (600+ quid) and northen norway/sweden 300+.

I am asking if anyone has been and where / when.

This is one of the reasons.

your getting ripped, I got my flights to iceland in sep for 80 quid return

 

[miracleboy]

Went to Iceland last December with Icelandair - stayed in Reykjavik for 3 days, was really nice but freezing cold and snowing! Didn't see the lights as it was snowing, but you have a pretty good chance of seeing them this time of year there. £600+ does sound a lot, can't remember how much we paid but it was less than that for 2 flights and 3 nights accomodation.

 

[Yas786]

Used to see them all the time when growing up in Canada, used to live in a small northern town...used to be quite cool from what i remember.

 

[Firefly86]

OK so thought I'd post since I've been and come back from Norway
Went upto Tromso in December and was lucky enough to get a fantastic display on my last night there. Here are some pics :

was really breathtaking so much so im going back there in a few weeks to try my luck again

 

[shimy182]

wish i was there.

 

[Greenlizard0]

I would give anything to see these in real life!

 

[Firefly86]

ye it really is a completely different experience irl made my hairs stand on end.
It's also impossible to describe in words the motion of them. Taking my new vid cam up there with me will post if i get anything decent!

 

[Azagoth]

That looks stunning. When I was last in Norway, we never got a display like that at all. Although we were slightly more to the South in Trondheim than up in Tromsø.

 

[Gilly]

I have seen them from Scotland but I'm definitely thinking of going up at the next optimum time. They were pretty cool in Scotland but I want to see them from the far north.

I'm sure prices will go up with it.

 

[Hxc]

I'd love to go to Svalbard to see them, although it's not the best, despite being the most northen....

 

[Firefly86]

its amazing how prices of flights do go up at those times.
I strongly suggest Tromso if you really want to see the lights the chances of a decent display are pretty high if you stay for around a week.

Booked my flights upto Tromso about 2 weeks back and I swear it seems the flight prices are linked to auroral activity!! lol

prolly just a coincidence dunno

http://www.gedds.alaska.edu/AuroraForecast/

EDIT - read up on svalbard but heard there are polar bears roaming around there! :S

 

[n3crius]

Hi,

We are going to Iceland next Thursday, so I can let you know if we get to see them! Apparantly this time of year is the best time, and also a new moon helps.

We got two flights fro heathrow, 4 nights accomodation and airport parking for just over £500 for 2. I dont know where you have been looking!

Good Luck!

 

[Gilly]

I'd love to go to Svalbard to see them, although it's not the best, despite being the most northen....

Is that cos of the book?

Don't forget she left from the fens where you are

 

[Hxc]

Is that cos of the book?

Don't forget she left from the fens where you are

Partially. I do like the trilogy a fair bit. Otherwise because I just like how cut off the island is and the like, with rules like when outside of towns, you have to carry a rifle because of polar bears. Just seems a nice place.

Could do a replica Northen Lights trip on some sort of boat, would be a laugh

 

[Firefly86]

yea around the equinoxes are usually the best time close to september or march, tho honestly the display i saw in december was fantastic so not sure what to say really

one thing i did notice tho, as when I went it was also a new moon. Is that it is so dark it does take the eyes a while to adjust to the dark, so much so that when I first saw the lights (they started off very mild) it looked like a cloud! :S

 

[chrislusty]

We went for our honeymoon to Iceland in October in hope to see the Nortnen Lights, however we did not see them, even though conditions for them were perfect
You can see them in North Scotland, at the right times too. We are going to save fro Canada for a few years time and hope to see them there.

 

[Slinwagh]

serious answer would be welcome.

KaHn

There are short cruises that run to coincide with it, we looked at one for later this/next year.

The only problem is you may not see it!!