Comorin From United States of America, joined May 2005, 4671 posts, RR: 17 Posted (5 years 4 months 3 weeks 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 5217 times:
I've always wanted to catch a really good display of the Aurora Borealis without freezing into a solid block of ice. Is there a best place/latitude in the Western Hemisphere to catch it? Is it a plannable event or do you have to monitor solar flares and rush there?
I read JBLUA320's thread from 2002 but would like current information.
Dazbo5 From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2005, 2572 posts, RR: 2 Reply 1, posted (5 years 4 months 3 weeks 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 5210 times:
I'm spending next christmas (2008) in Yallis, northern Finland (Lapland) and have been told the northern lights appear on average every 3 nights providing the sky is clear. I'm really hoping to see them while I'm there. It's about -8 celcius in that part of the world at the moment so its no exactly warm, but not as cold as other places.
Darren
Equipment: 2x Canon EOS 50D; Sigma 10-20 EX DC HSM, 50-500 EX APO DG, Canon 24-105 f/4 L, Speedlite 430EX
Swiftski From Australia, joined Dec 2006, 2701 posts, RR: 2 Reply 2, posted (5 years 4 months 3 weeks 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 5203 times:
Quoting Dazbo5 (Reply 1): I'm spending next christmas (2008) in Yallis, northern Finland (Lapland) and have been told the northern lights appear on average every 3 nights providing the sky is clear.
Was going to suggest Northern Finland before I saw your response. Now I second it.
WILCO737 From Greenland, joined Jun 2004, 8473 posts, RR: 78 Reply 5, posted (5 years 4 months 3 weeks 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 5186 times:
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Quoting ANCFlyer (Reply 4): They really are spectacular when seen while airborne.
That's happened a few times to me flying up here.
Otherwise, I settle for scenes like this (and yes, it's cold . . . the colder the better to get a good view):
Stunning!!! AMAZING pictures! Congrats on those pictures! I Hope I can see some tonight myself!
But taking pictures of it while cruising at 1000km/h might be a little more difficult...
B747forever From United States of America, joined May 2007, 16574 posts, RR: 11 Reply 7, posted (5 years 4 months 3 weeks 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 5167 times:
I saw northern lights back in 2004 when I flew with LH from LAX to FRA. It was a great view.
Nighthawk From UK - Scotland, joined Sep 2001, 4988 posts, RR: 38 Reply 8, posted (5 years 4 months 3 weeks 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 5151 times:
The northern lights can be seen from Aberdeen, or anywhere else in Scotland equally as far north, although probably only when it is at its strongest.
Should be slightly milder than Finland,although still rather cold! Ill be trying to catch a glimpse of it this winter, anyone know any websites which predict when they will be at their brightest?
There's no guarantee you'll be able to see anything at all, even in a bright night away from the cities, but the likelihood increases rapidly towards the pole(s).
Comorin From United States of America, joined May 2005, 4671 posts, RR: 17 Reply 10, posted (5 years 4 months 3 weeks 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 5086 times:
Thanks everyone for the tips! ANCFlyer - great pics!!
WILCO737, I suppose the cockpit is dark enough to see it, but wonder how it'd be in the pax cabin. Have a safe flight!
A346Dude From Canada, joined Nov 2004, 1198 posts, RR: 8 Reply 11, posted (5 years 4 months 3 weeks 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 5081 times:
Also be aware that the likelihood of northern lights waxes and wanes with the 11-year solar cycle. Right now we are near the low point but on the upswing, with the next maximum occurring in about 3 years. Solar maximum is the best time to see auroras in relatively southern areas such as southern Canada and the northern US, though they can be seen at just about any point in the cycle. A couple years ago we had a huge solar storm that would have been easily visible in NYC.
Edit: This is a great site to monitor to know when northern lights are possible in the lower latitudes: http://www.spaceweather.com/
[Edited 2007-12-29 16:16:19]
You know the gear is up and locked when it takes full throttle to taxi to the terminal.
Comorin From United States of America, joined May 2005, 4671 posts, RR: 17 Reply 12, posted (5 years 4 months 3 weeks 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 5064 times:
Excellent site, thanks! I see that Iceland is the best bet right now from the 'Auroral Oval' map. I suppose it's hard to predict when a solar event will occur that's severe enough to cause it.
Norlander From Faroe Islands, joined Sep 2007, 128 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (5 years 4 months 3 weeks 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 5060 times:
The Aurora Borealis is often (several times a month during winter) visible in Greenland, Iceland and here the Faroe Islands, but one of the best places to view it that is "easily accessible" is Tromso in northern Norway. Situated at nearly 70N it's right in the middle of the Aurora Borealis zone, so much so that their university is internationally renowned for it.
On a un-related note: How come that our forums now don't accept Scandianvian letters? See how Tromso is spelled elsewhere compared to how I'm forced to spell it.
A346Dude From Canada, joined Nov 2004, 1198 posts, RR: 8 Reply 15, posted (5 years 4 months 3 weeks 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 5038 times:
Quoting Braybuddy (Reply 14): Anyone know if they are visible in Kiruna in Finland?
They are visible just about anywhere on the Earth during the most intense events (I know they have been seen at least as far south as Mexico in the past). As Finland is relatively far north it should be visible there during periods of moderate solar activity.
You know the gear is up and locked when it takes full throttle to taxi to the terminal.
Comorin From United States of America, joined May 2005, 4671 posts, RR: 17 Reply 16, posted (5 years 4 months 3 weeks 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 5035 times:
Tromso sounds like fun, and warmer than other spots at 70 deg N! I'm looking for places to go around Feb, so I'll check the sites mentioned here to make sure the solar weather is right.
AAFLT1871 From United States of America, joined Dec 2004, 2333 posts, RR: 16 Reply 19, posted (5 years 4 months 3 weeks 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 4998 times:
Quoting Comorin (Reply 10): WILCO737, I suppose the cockpit is dark enough to see it, but wonder how it'd be in the pax cabin. Have a safe flight!
AR385 From Mexico, joined Nov 2003, 4844 posts, RR: 28 Reply 20, posted (5 years 4 months 3 weeks 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 4987 times:
If you don't want to transform into a solid block of ice, you may wish to try the Aurora Australis. You can see them from Ushuaia and it's pretty cheap to get there.
WestJetYQQ From Canada, joined Jan 2007, 2986 posts, RR: 5 Reply 22, posted (5 years 4 months 3 weeks 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 4978 times:
Wait till sometime in 2011. That year is predicted to have a Solar Maximum, the strongest point in the suns 20 solar cycle, so the Northern Lights will be able to be seen way more than usual. This Solar Maximum is predicted to be stronger than one in the 1950's when the Northern Lights could be seen as far south as Mexico.
Can't wait for that.
Cheers
Carson
Will You Try to Change Things? Use the Power that you have, the Power of a Million new Ideas.
Cedars747 From Norway, joined Dec 2005, 2686 posts, RR: 23 Reply 25, posted (5 years 4 months 3 weeks 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 4935 times:
Quoting Norlander (Reply 13): but one of the best places to view it that is "easily accessible" is Tromso in northern Norway.
That's true,Tromsø is the capital of the Aurora borealis and Norwegian Air Shuttle fly from London Stansted to Tromsø Lagnes airport twice a week
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so I hope for northern lights 
Congrats on those pictures! I Hope I can see some tonight myself!
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