Northern Lights

The Northern Lights – or Aurora Borealis to give it its proper name – is a striking natural phenomenon.  Similar to a sunset, but at night, the lights appear in arches or spirals following the magnetic field of the earth.  Charged particles that are ejected from the sun create the stunning marvel when they collide with gas atoms which cause them to energise and create a quite breath taking light show in the sky.  The Northern Lights can be many colours, but are quite often light green.

Some displays of the Northern Lights have been so spectacular that they’ve been highlighted in news accounts.  In 1859 for example, the lights were so stunning that the entire night sky turned red and was witnessed as far south as Cuba!  Most Northern Lights occur between 90 and 130 km above sea level but some can extend even further up.  When you consider that the average plane flies at an altitude of approximately 10 km, you can see how high these incredible displays soar.

Where to See the Northern Lights

Many people believe that you must head far north to see the light display but actually, the Northern Lights circle the earth around the North’s Magnetic Pole so they can actually move about quite a bit. Locations that regularly witness the Northern Lights include:

• Minnesota
• North Dakota
• Northern Finland
• Northern Sweden
• Northern Norway

So these are the best areas to head for if you wish to plan Northern Lights holidays.
The North Magnetic Pole can change its location throughout the year, sometimes moving by tens of miles.  It’s currently located near Ellesmere Island in the far north of Canada.  Depending on the time of year, sometimes the Northern Lights can be witnessed by almost all of the United States of America.

When to See the Northern Lights

The probability of witnessing a clear Northern Lights display is both seasonal and also longer term.  In terms of season, the best months for chasing the Aurora Borealis and having peak Northern Lights holidays are September and March.  You may also strike it lucky in October and April.  In terms of the best time of day, you’ll be most impressed with the display at around midnight.  A maximum in solar activity, meaning better displays, is due to occur in 2013 and will continue for several years afterwards – so it’s the best time to be planning those Northern Lights holidays!
Before you head out to see the Northern Lights, it’s very worthwhile keeping an eye on the weather forecast.  Even the most spectacular of shows can be ruined by low-level cloud so make sure you head out on a crisp, clear night.

If you are able to get to a good spot for viewing the Northern Lights with little notice (lucky you!), you can also keep an eye on the state of the ‘space weather’ – that is, the condition outside of the earth’s atmosphere that is dependent on solar activity.  There are plenty of websites that can help you to track down this information and keep up to date.  The best sites are those where the information is presented in an accessible fashion and isn’t too jargon-filled! 
Knowing in advance that there is a large solar storm on the way will be your ticket to an incredible Northern Lights show.  You will usually have anything from a few hours’ to a few days’ warning to get to your observation spot.  However, don’t rely on these reports giving you the absolute optimum viewing during your Northern Lights holidays; it is merely an indication of what could be a good show and is more down to luck than anything else.

Snap Happy

If you’re a keen photographer, the chance to capture the Northern Lights will be a big ‘to do’ on your Northern Lights holidays list.  The lights are very fast moving and therefore it takes some skill to successfully capture a good image.  Sometimes the lights will be quite faint and when you put faint lights against a dark background, your standard commercial photography equipment is unlikely to cut it.  To get optimum results you will probably need:

• A good fast-film/ISO setting on a high quality digital camera
• A fast lens with aperture f/2.8 or higher
• A camera with manual exposure of between 5 to 40 seconds
• A quality tripod for a steady shot
• A cable release or a trustworthy timer so that you can set the camera off without wobbling it!

 

Keep Safe and Warm!

Dressing warm is essential if you plan on a long term Northern Lights stakeout.  Depending on the time of year you aim for, you could be sitting out in some very cold conditions so make sure you layer up!  And pop on a serious pair of winter boots to keep your feet warm while you’re standing around for long periods of time.  Also take plenty of provisions with you so that you are well fed and watered while you wait for the stunning displays.

Most importantly, make sure you have a vehicle with you where you can go to warm up, or even get away if the cold gets too much!  Getting a snapshot of your experience is something you will never regret – but don’t freeze in the process!

Booking your Northern Lights Holidays

A trip centred on seeing the Northern Lights can be so magical, and create memories that will stay with you forever.  Pay close attention to the advice on when is best to go so that you aren’t disappointed.

There are plenty of tour companies that specialise in Northern Lights holidays so you will be spoilt for choice.  A popular option is to go on a cruise so that you can admire the Northern Lights from the sea but for those who are looking for something more land-based, it can be wonderful booking a house and staying there for a full week or two so that you have plenty of evenings to catch the lights.  There are plenty of one bedroom, two bedroom, three bedroom or even four bedroom properties that can be a family home away from home while you explore not only the Northern Lights, but everything else there is to offer in the area. 

Norway is a popular location for Northern Lights holidays too so why not see if you can find a one, two, three or four bedroom property to book for a while and have a truly relaxing break in the northern part of the world.  Why not check out what we have available?

The Northern Lights Festival, Tromso

One of the best ways to see the Northern Lights is at a festival, surrounded by likeminded people and plenty of things to do.  Every January, Tromso in Norway plays host to Nordlysfestivalen, a festival completely dedicated to the wonder that is the Aurora Borealis.  Because it is so far north, Tromso lies in complete darkness for weeks on end as the sun fails to break over the horizon.  So the day the light returns to the city is a day for great celebration!  The festival is dedicated to praising the first dawn of the year and celebrating the Northern Lights.

The festival provides some incredible musical genres including jazz, symphonic, choral, ethnic folk and orchestra and the area is alive with a buzz unlike anything else.  There is certainly something for everyone at the Northern Lights Festival.

Being the largest city inside the Arctic Circle, Tromso is a spectacular destination that offers a host of tourism options as well as being a firm favourite with locals too.  It has a very vibrant nightlife and a lot to offer culturally.  The locals are friendly and good company and there is some amazing food and drink to be consumed.  Not only is the city centre a great place to be, but if you want to get out into the surrounding countryside, there is some truly amazing scenery to explore and enjoy.

When it comes to actually checking out the Northern Lights, it is advisable to get out of the city so that the very best views can be afforded.  Just as a starry night is far better viewed away from the bright lights of a city centre, you will be rewarded with a clearer view of the Northern Lights from outside of the centre.  The best time to be out in the countryside to witness the Northern Lights is between 6pm and 1am, but be sure to head out on a clear night so that you will get the very best view of the Northern Lights.  Because of the weather dependency, it’s best to allow several days at least for your Northern Lights holidays so that you’re not narrowing your chances to very few.

What’s on this Year?

In 2012, the Northern Lights Festival is due to pull out all the stops with some incredible music and an atmosphere it would be hard to find elsewhere!  The opening concert will take place on the 27th January and will include some spectacular musical offerings from amazing musicians.  The Festival will run until Saturday February 3rd and you’ll be spoilt for choice with chamber choirs, quintets, opera galas and children’s concerts.