What better way to see the northern lights? (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to see the northern lights? ›

Head north anywhere near and above the Arctic Circle, and if the night sky looks clear and starry, you have a good chance of seeing the Northern Lights. Remember to get far away from bright lights and buildings.

One of the best things about aurora chasing from a ship is that you're always on the move. If the sky is overcast, there's a good chance the clouds will clear as you sail further along the coast. This constant shift from cloudy to clear skies increases your likelihood of seeing the Northern Lights, again and again.

The northern lights depend on a favorable solar weather forecast and also the right atmospheric conditions. They require a clear, dark, ideally moonless sky, a northerly latitude, and a lot of patience. They're better viewed in fall, winter, and spring, thanks to longer hours of darkness.

Try to have a clear view to the north. A coastal location or on top of a hill may be good options to try. During extremely strong displays the aurora might be overhead, or to the south of your location so have a good look around.

It must be dark: Go out at night. Get away from city lights. The full moon will also diminish the apparent brightness of the aurora (not the actual brightness). One caveat that people often neglect to think of is that the high latitudes where aurora occur are also latitudes where it doesn't get dark in the summer.

You are more likely to see the northern lights in winter, between the months of October and April. This is because the night sky is darker in winter and there are fewer daylight hours.

A good display may last between 15 and 30 minutes, although if you're really lucky, it could extend to a couple of hours or longer. To see the Northern Lights, the sky needs to be dark and clear of any clouds.

Simply put, most auroras are green. That would be the shortest and scientifically correct answer, (there are other colours of the aurora but green is the most commonly observed and relevant colour to this question). However, it doesn't always appear green to our eyes.

Hunting the Northern Lights by Boat in Iceland

Finally, a fantastic way to enjoy the incredible phenomenon of the aurora borealis in Iceland is by watching them on a boat tour. These tours take you out to sea, far from any light pollution, and offer you a fantastic opportunity for a sighting.

What not to do with Northern Lights? ›

Thought to be the souls of the dead, the Sámi believed you shouldn't talk about the Northern Lights. It was also dangerous to tease them by waving, whistling, or singing under them, as this would alert the lights to your presence.

Generally speaking, northern lights viewing is best during the darkest hours of the night and early morning. Friday's lights should be observable between 11 p.m. Friday and 1 a.m. Saturday, though they can be seen up until about 3 a.m., according to theNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The northern lights are created when energized particles from the sun slam into Earth's upper atmosphere at speeds of up to 45 million mph (72 million kph), but our planet's magnetic field protects us from the onslaught.

Fairbanks, Alaska

Fairbanks is by far one of the best places in the world to view the northern lights, as it's located directly under the auroral oval. This ring-shaped zone sits around the Earth's geomagnetic North Pole and is generally associated with the most vibrant aurora sightings.

If you're wondering if Iceland or Alaska is better for viewing the Northern Lights. The answer is that both offer incredible opportunities. The ideal position for viewing the Aurora Borealis is north of 65 degrees latitude. It will need to be a cloudless night and preferably away from city lights.