Northern Lights

[leyorkie]

Any one seen the Northern Lights?
OH wants to see but so many options and nothing guaranteed so any help appretiated.
Iceland, Norway, Canada?

[sawman]

leyorkie said:

Any one seen the Northern Lights?
OH wants to see but so many options and nothing guaranteed so any help appretiated.
Iceland, Norway, Canada?

The trouble is, much like whale watching or whatever nature may well not mesh with your schedule.

I saw them once on a flight from canada, pretty special, and one of the things I had hoped to see whilst in canada, but the weather whilst I was there was not conducive and so thought the opportunity had passed until the pilot suggested that we lifted the blinds on the plane.

I would probably be inclined to try canada, but rather than a primary objective I would have a few other things to do, the lights being one, if you see them thats cool, if you dont well you did the otherstuff

[smifffymoto]

Saw them in Finnish Lapland,Saariselka,way north of the arctic circle.Like as been said you are lucky or you are not but they are stunning.

[cottonfoo]

I'd try Tromsø in Norway, but it will be weather and activity permitting wherever you go.

[whitechief]

I really would like to see them, it's on my list of things to do.

[ViperDave]

Dont forget we are at a solar minimum at the moment, a 100 year one at that, having said that, we did see them in march in Tromsø. Its a case of be in the right place for long enough or plain lucky and they will be there. When i was researching it Tromsø came out as being the best bet as they are almost perfectly placed and not that hard to get to, where as canada is a long flight and your still not that far north without going very remote.

Take a look around these web sites

http://www.spaceweather.com/
http://www.gedds.alaska.edu/AuroraForecast/
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/pmap/

[eldar]

You can see them in Northern Scotland. Very occasionally (about once in 5 years) I've need them from Cumbria.

[fatboy b]

Seen them twice on flights back from North America. First time - pretty awesome. Second time, a bit feeble. Mrs wants to take a trip oop-north to Norway or somewhere to see them proper.

[Don]

The problem with the Northern lights is that they may shine brightly or they may not turn up at all for weeks.

We did a week in northern Sweden (Ice Hotel - brilliant and recommended) and didn't seem 'em at all. Despite sleeping in a room with a glass ceiling especially to maximise the chances!

[RemaL]

smifffymoto said:

Saw them in Finnish Lapland,Saariselka,way north of the arctic circle.Like as been said you are lucky or you are not but they are stunning.

me to last Dec

[fatboy b]

Don said:

The problem with the Northern lights is that they may shine brightly or they may not turn up at all for weeks.

We did a week in northern Sweden (Ice Hotel - brilliant and recommended) and didn't seem 'em at all. Despite sleeping in a room with a glass ceiling especially to maximise the chances!

A week! We're looking a doing long w/e. May I ask what sort of cost for a week?

Edited by fatboy b on Friday 6th November 12:49

[JuniorD]

They can often be seen during winter while flying back from North America. Make sure you sit on the correct side of the plane though. Failing that, you can replicate the northern lights by switching the lights off, getting under a duvet and sticking your fingers in your eye sockets.

[Don]

fatboy b said:

Don said:

The problem with the Northern lights is that they may shine brightly or they may not turn up at all for weeks.

We did a week in northern Sweden (Ice Hotel - brilliant and recommended) and didn't seem 'em at all. Despite sleeping in a room with a glass ceiling especially to maximise the chances!

A week! We're looking a doing long w/e. May I ask what sort of cost for a week?

We flew out on the Monday, stayed in the local town for a night then did Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday nights in the hotel then flew home on the Friday. Tuesday in an ice room. So actually only like your long weekend, I expect. I think we did a couple of grand on it over all.

But we did EVERYTHING. The Mrs booked dog sledding, Snowmobiles, nighttime Snowmobiling to a frozen lake to view the Northern Lights, Sami meals out - the lot. It was a good hoot.

[Bill]

JuniorD said:

Failing that, you can replicate the northern lights by switching the lights off, getting under a duvet and sticking your fingers in your eye sockets.

Bill Bryson recounts spending a fortnight in Tromso in mid winter and only seeing the lights once

[whitechief]

Joanna Lumley made a documentary for the BBC about them last year.

Skip to 4:45

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZ8xd6xnZ9U&fea...

[shakotan]

We saw them very faintly whilst celebrating New Years in the middle of a frozen lake in Kiruna. A small strip of pale green glow in the sky that hung around for about 20 mins.

Nothing as spectacular as you'll see on tv, but pretty cool none-the-less.

It's very hit'n'miss

[central]

I remember seeing them from Northamptonshire about 20 years ago. It made the national news the next day, with reports as far South as London!

IIRC this happens about every 50 years or so.

[shakotan]

central said:

I remember seeing them from Northamptonshire about 20 years ago. It made the national news the next day, with reports as far South as London!

IIRC this happens about every 50 years or so.

It's been seen as far south as Rome

[hornetrider]

whitechief said:

Joanna Lumley made a documentary for the BBC about them last year.

Skip to 4:45

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZ8xd6xnZ9U&fea...

I saw that documentary. I must admit (having never seen them myself) that the lights i the doc looked like special effects. Is that what they look like?