Seeing the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, is almost indescribable. The silent spectacle of light and colour is sublime (and chilling at the same time) and deserves to be witnessed live. There are several places on the planet where the Aurora Borealis is regularly spotted, especially in the autumn and winter months, but you can also spot it more easily in spring. With this guide you can plan your trip easily.
Although to see the Northern Lights some factors are out of your control such as favourable weather (clear skies), there is more information you should know to enjoy this majestic spectacle of nature.
When I travelled to Finland for the first time to see the Aurora Borealis, I was amazed. in the face of such beauty, not only because of the phenomenon but also because of the incredible Finnish winter landscapes. To a large extent, the tips I've provided can also be used to observe the Aurora Austral, i.e. in the Southern Hemisphere.
A practical guide to seeing the Aurora Borealis
What is the Aurora Borealis?
The name Aurora Borealis was given by the Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei in honour of Aurora - the Roman goddess of dawn - and her son Borias, and representative of the north wind. The word "aurora" derives from the Latin word for "dawn, or morning light", since auroras were once considered the first light of day. As with everything, in Scandinavia and North America there are legends about the Northern Lights.
This is a natural light show caused by the collision of electrical particles with gases such as oxygen and nitrogen. These particles released by the sun enter the Earth's atmosphere and form the lights that are seen around the magnetic poles of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
The auroras that occur in the Northern Hemisphere are called the Aurora Borealis or "Northern Lights" and the auroras seen in the Southern Hemisphere are called the "Aurora Australis" or "Southern Lights".
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When is the best time to see the Northern Lights?
To spot the Northern Lights you need dark nights and, to increase the likelihood of observing the phenomenon, the longer the night, the better. Therefore, the autumn and winter months are ideal.
The only time of year when you're unlikely to see the Northern Lights is summer, because places like Sweden, Norway or Finland, for example, have very long days and in some of these regions the sun doesn't dip below the horizon - something known as the midnight sun. So if you want to see the Aurora Borealis, the best time is between September and March or April.
When planning your holiday and before booking your flight, consult a lunar calendar, as it's vital that your dates don't coincide with full moon nights. The darker the nights the better, so the ideal is to select new moon dates.
Where can I see the Aurora Borealis or Aurora Australis?
I recently wrote an article about the places where you can see this phenomenon. Places ranging from Europe to Oceania. Read this article to find out where you can see this ballet of light and colour.
For example, in southern Finland, the Aurora Borealis can only be seen between 10 and 20 nights a year. However, if you travel to the north of the country, that estimate rises exponentially, i.e. almost every night. I recommend Finland for a number of reasons, which I also explain in the article I mentioned earlier. And if you want to read more about my experience, I invite you to also read this text about my trip.
To have the best chance of seeing the Aurora Borealis or Australis, you need to be as far away from light pollution as possible and close to the Earth's magnetic poles. It's also essential to move as far north as possible and choose open or elevated locations such as hills, open fields, lakes or beaches, for example.
Can I find out in advance if I'm going to see the Aurora Borealis?
Yes and no. Being a natural spectacle, it's obviously out of your hands. It's possible to know if you'll be lucky - with some degree of certainty - a couple of nights before or perhaps even a week, since to a large extent the visibility of the Northern Lights is dependent on clear skies. On the website of the Finnish meteorological institute there is even an alert service for the Northern Lights that you can subscribe to.
That's the first factor, but it's not the only one, because a clear night doesn't mean you'll be lucky enough to see this dazzling phenomenon. Since this dance of lights is caused by solar particles, the greater the intensity of dust released by the sun, the greater the chance of seeing the Aurora Borealis on Earth. And for this there are places on the internet where you can get a forecast up to an hour in advance.
Can I have any guarantee that I'll see the phenomenon?
No. It may have some degree of reliability, but never total certainty. Sunspots and solar flares are the most important elements. If there are lots of sunspots, there will be lots of solar flares and therefore a good chance of seeing auroras.
Without going into too much detail, on the website I've listed above, you can find out with a greater degree of certainty whether you're going to be rewarded by the heavens or not. However, it's never 100% guaranteed.
The site uses a numerical system called "kp", i.e. a scale of geomagnetic activity. The site explains that it is therefore possible to draw a map and say, for example, that place X or Y usually sees the Aurora Borealis when the Kp6 level is reached. However, as it's not an exact figure, it also recommends that if the maps indicate that you need kp6, you should leave the house even when the indication is only Kp5. At worst, you'll see a beautiful starry sky.
What time can I see the Aurora Borealis?
As I mentioned above, certainties and dawns are two words that are rarely uttered in the same sentence. However, there are more favourable times to see the Northern Lights. The best time of night is between 10pm and 2am, although the phenomenon can be seen at any other time. In my personal experience, I have always seen the Aurora Borealis after 23:00.
Are there better years than others to see the Aurora Borealis?
Yes, of course. Basically, it's like wine, which also depends on the sun - there are years when the harvest is better and others when it's not. But in the case of the auroras, everything depends on the solar cycle, and it's a certain cycle. The solar cycle is 11 years long, with a solar minimum period and a maximum period. The possibility of seeing auroras is much greater during the solar maximum period, i.e. during the peak period, also known as the peak period. solar max.
The next high-intensity period for spotting the Aurora Borealis will only be from 2022 until 2027, with scientists pointing to the year 2024 and the month of February as the next one. solar max. But this doesn't mean that the phenomenon will end, it just means that it will be seen less often and at higher latitudes.
Are the colours the same in person as in the photos?
To be honest, not so much. In some cases, the phenomenon is only seen for a few seconds. However, in photographs, as it is a long exposure image, the colours become more vivid. See how to photograph the Aurora Borealis and capture the perfect images.
Auroras can appear in many colours such as red, blue, magenta and yellow, although green is the most common. And auroras can appear in many forms, from small patches of light to arcs or rays.
The variation in colour is due to the type of gas particles that collide with the Earth's atmosphere. The green colour is caused by oxygen molecules located around 100 kilometres above the Earth. The rarer red auroras are produced by high-altitude oxygen, while blue or violet auroras are caused by nitrogen.
Do cold nights contribute to seeing the Aurora Borealis?
No, this is just an empirical fact that has been passed down for generations. This association is due to the fact that the phenomenon is regularly seen in autumn or winter and in regions with harsh winters. Despite this, you're more likely to see the Aurora Borealis with snowsuits, gloves, hats and a thermos of hot tea in your hands.
What to take on a trip to see the Northern Lights
The northern lights are a natural occurrence, so you'll need luck first. However, there are a few things you can buy in advance to make the experience more enjoyable.
Camera
You'll certainly want to record this moment for posterity and believe me, it's well worth investing in a decent camera to capture the Aurora Borealis. Be careful when moving the camera from outdoors to indoors, as this can cause condensation and damage your camera.
When you get back to the hotel, resist the temptation to look at the photos and leave the camera in your backpack to acclimatise. You can also put it in a plastic bag to avoid condensation.
Spare batteries
Spare camera batteries lose power very quickly when exposed to extreme temperatures. So take more than one and keep them in inner pockets close to your body to conserve battery power for longer.
Lantern
To spot the Northern Lights you'll need to be in dark places, but to get there a torch is your best friend. It's even a good idea to carry a torch with a red light, as it allows you to preserve your night vision and enjoy the lights without interruptions.
You can buy a torch or, alternatively, use the one that comes built into some mobile phones.
Tripod
To photograph the Aurora Borealis, you need to keep the shutter open for several seconds or minutes, so you'll need a tripod to avoid returning home with blurry images. Something like a gorillapod might be ideal, depending on the size and weight of your camera.
Warm, waterproof clothing
I made the mistake of not taking snow trousers, but luckily a friend lent me some and saved me from having to return to the bungalow early. I really think that snow trousers are an essential element.
As well as these, don't forget your hat, gloves (maybe two pairs for photography), balaclava, scarf, polar fleece or feather jackets. And wear warm, waterproof boots, because you'll probably be in a wet or snow-covered field.
The best solution is to dress in layers, starting with thermal clothing next to the body to help remove moisture from the skin and keep the body warm.
Thermos and hot drinks
Take a thermos and fill it with a hot drink of your choice, such as tea or coffee. It's something I've taken with me and it's been very useful on this and other trips where the cold is constant.
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