The Dark Alliance

Open Area => General Discussion => Topic started by: Mambopoa on 06 November, 2009, 09:51:14 AM

Title: When is the best time to see the Northern Lights
Post by: Mambopoa on 06 November, 2009, 09:51:14 AM

Thought this would be the best place to ask for advice.

What time would be the best time to see the lights?

I know the season is October to March.

But which time is best in your experience?

 ;D

Title: Re: When is the best time to see the Northern Lights
Post by: delay on 07 November, 2009, 10:52:51 AM

I think I live way too far south in Norway as I have never seen it myself =(

Title: Re: When is the best time to see the Northern Lights
Post by: feiten on 10 November, 2009, 10:22:36 PM

ill try and give u some advice as i have been living up in tromsø for 3 years of my life.
To my experience the best northern light are around later november early december, but troughout dec to feb u can catch some great northern light sightings, its all about going out into the forest or just away from populated areas in general and camp out for a few nights then u will prob see some, and usually its GREAT around late nov and early dec.
But thats just my experience.

Title: Re: When is the best time to see the Northern Lights
Post by: Mambopoa on 11 November, 2009, 09:15:15 AM

Thanks for the advice,

It will be sort of a day trip to go and see them.
So not sure how it is going to work, but I guess I will not have time for nov/dec.

I will see what I can find.

 :D

Title: Re: When is the best time to see the Northern Lights
Post by: EchelonIV on 11 November, 2009, 04:12:31 PM

problem is that most days dont have em  .. like cant realy plan on geting one at that spesific date :/

Title: Re: When is the best time to see the Northern Lights
Post by: feiten on 12 November, 2009, 06:35:24 AM

well if your lucky u can get to see em, but i have seen alot of shitty once. think they usually appear when its cold. like propperly cold.
i can try and figure out when i have usually seen em. also i can contact some friends up there and see if they know under which conditions they occure

Title: Re: When is the best time to see the Northern Lights
Post by: Mambopoa on 12 November, 2009, 09:12:36 AM

I know its a risk, I just want to try and increase my chances of seeing one.
Even if its not the best there can be.

Since I can not wait for ever, the time I get there I would just like to maximise it as much as possible.

 ;D

Title: Re: When is the best time to see the Northern Lights
Post by: rhayn on 12 November, 2009, 02:47:21 PM

Disclaimer: Never seen one myself. The following is strictly from a theoretical point of view.

Northern lights or Aurora Borealis are a result of the solar wind interacting with the upper atmosphere and there's really just two factors that is relevant with respect to the frequency of their occurrence. Firstly they are most common around the equinoxes (September and March). The explanation is somewhat complicated, but it has to do with the fact that the solar winds flow more rapidly from the Suns poles and that more of this radiation will hit the Earth at the equinoxes. Secondly, and somewhat obviously, they are dependent on the activity of the Sun. The Sun has a cycle of around 11 years during which the activity (sunspots) waxes and wanes. I'm sorry to report that we are currently at a low point in this cycle.

The connection with temperature is probably just a result of the sky usually being clear on cold nights.

Best of luck catching some though.  :)

Title: Re: When is the best time to see the Northern Lights
Post by: feiten on 13 November, 2009, 09:53:06 PM

ye prob.
well i wish you good luck mate. as its needed to have to see a good one.
best of luck

Title: Re: When is the best time to see the Northern Lights
Post by: delay on 16 November, 2009, 11:48:14 PM

Very nice input, rhayn, that really answered all the questions I was about to post! :)

(Look, Mom! No sarcasm!)

Title: Re: When is the best time to see the Northern Lights
Post by: feiten on 17 November, 2009, 07:48:20 AM

Ye rhyan is to smart.
All i know is its Nice to see a propper one, so make sure to be away from lightpolution

Title: Re: When is the best time to see the Northern Lights
Post by: Mambopoa on 17 November, 2009, 09:13:12 AM

Its just getting more complicated.  ;)

But sounds like I should be around March time for the best chance.

 :D