When is the best time to see the Northern Lights?

For centuries, people have been enthralled by the sky and its beauty wonders. In fact, because the northern lights rarely appear and when they do they are truly a phenomenon of out-of-this-world beauty, it has always held the human eye. Officially, it was Galileo who named this phenomenon in 1619; however, scientists later found that there were records of the phenomenon even much earlier – in a cave painting dating back 30,000 years.

Why are Northern lights so special?

Here are some special facts about the Aurora Borealis that scientists have unearthed so far:

• Besides the northern hemisphere, southern lights exist too. Such southern lights are called Aurora Australis. Depending on the earth’s magnetic field, auroras change shape sometimes and seem to be moving curtains of light.
•  According to NASA, auroral citing goes back as early as 2600 BC. It is important to many cultures; even Australian and North American natives have found it vital in their daily lives.
• Northern lights are very unpredictable as it depends upon the solar activity. The time when they will appear cannot be predicted with absolute certainty. Light pollution, cloud, solar activity etc. 
• Northern lights are visible from space. The northern lights wallpapers that you find on the web are actually satellite images. The green light emitted is due to oxygen atoms, while the red light of northern lights is due to nitrogen. 
• Though the lights are best seen at the pole, they can also move south. The eyes see the northern lights are not as beautiful as the camera captures it. 
• The red light, especially in northern lights, is difficult to pick up by the human retina. 

Best Time to see Northern Lights

Northern lights are always active throughout the year. They can appear at any time of the year, but it depends on chance if you are lucky enough to see them due to pollution or lesser solar activity. However, there are specific places and times when one has more chances of catching the Aurora Borealis. Although you cannot predict a Northern light, the best chance to catch a glimpse is from September through March. These are the great autumn months when to view the Aurora Borealis in the cold Arctic Circle. It is mostly clear during these months with high solar activities. They can be seen in regions between 65º to 70º North latitudes during clear skies. However, for a better experience you will have to endure the cold and visit during January to March. The best time to see the northern lights is 17:00 to 02:00. The months of September and March are most probable to find. 

Best place to see Northern lights 

Places close to the Earth’s magnetic pole are most famous for their Auroras. The best locations in the world are typically closer to the Arctic Circle. These countries include Greenland, Canada, Norway, Alaska, Sweden, Iceland, and Finland. Let’s look at some different countries you can visit to see the Northern Lights dance:

1) Norway

Perhaps one of the best locations to view the Northern lights, Norway’s Svalbard is the northernmost place between latitude 74 and 81 degrees. The place also boasts of another rare wonder- the Polar Night. So, no wonder it was considered to be the ultimate destination in the world in order to witness the magic of the Northern Lights.

2) Iceland

Iceland Perhaps one of the easiest and most crowded places that people visit for the Northern Lights, is Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik, which hosts numerous tourists, besides offering to them some glaciers, blue ice, geysers, as well as volcanoes, among plenty of other intriguing things for a tourist to see.

3) Finland

Finland Kakslauttanen is not a popular noisy place for tourists who prefer a quiet atmosphere in the Northernmost part of Finland; many interested visitors come there in order to chase the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis. You might experience phenomenal Northern Lights along with calving a reindeer towards the end in Urho National Park. 

4) Sweden

Sweden Jukkasjärvi is famous for night flight excursions especially customised to viewing an unforgettable view of an Aurora. Time spent in stargazing will be spent in the Esrange Space Centre.

5) Scotland

 Scotland It may be readily accessible to spot clear, dry skies in the latitudes of Scotland for sighting some Auroras. The place is an excellent site due to its cultural as well as natural beauty, and seeing the Northern Lights here will be an added boon. 

6) Canada

Northern Canada is part of the ‘Aurora Oval’, making this a great destination to enjoy the Northern Lights. Here are some points in Yukon, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Northern Saskatchewan and British Columbia.

Cause for Northern lights

For so long, people have always asked themselves how Northern Lights are formed. The phenomenon was only explained in the previous century. The magnificent Northern lights are, after all, the outcome of violent collisions of billions of particles released from the sun’s atmosphere. When these charged particles released by the sun collide with the Earth’s atmosphere, they result in different colours. 

Green, the most common aurora colour, is produced because of oxygen molecules that collide about 95 kilometres above the Earth. 

The red auroras are created at higher altitudes, at heights well above 320 kilometres. The blue or purple aurora is produced by Nitrogen, and the overlap of different auroras creates other colours including orange, pink, and blue. They do typically appear in short spasms. Sometimes, you would watch it for just a few minutes at a time, sometimes more than several hours on end. 

How to increase chances of Northern lights being seen?

You know by now how very unpredictable Northern Lights can be. Scientists and even keen astronomers are still working on deciphering this celestial marvel. You will readily find accounts of disappointed people who sat in queues for hours and even days to catch the Northern Lights but failed to do so. Here are a few things you can do to maximise your chances of seeing the spectacular Northern Lights:

1.  Choose the Best Time to View Northern Lights:  Plan your visit for the best months. Clear and dark skies are essential in spotting the Auroras. Several times, people cannot spot these lights because the sky is unclear or there is too much humidity. 
2.  Do Your Research on Aurora Borealis: You can’t just go to a place and expect to catch the Northern Lights.You need to check weather. However, it all depends on the sun so there’s no guarantee. 
3. Ask travel agents for Help:  If you want, opt for travel agencies or tour companies specialising in Aurora chasing. These people may be local residents or may have years of experience and knowledge about the Northern Lights. They are going to lead you through the cold, dark rooms for a night to remember.

Conclusion 

Northern Lights are best viewed from late August to April in northern Finland. Auroras are caused by solar winds but occur throughout the year. However, nights have to be dark enough for us to catch a glimpse of this phenomenal light show.

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