This was my first time seeing the Northern Lights. I had spent a week in Norway, in winter, and luck had been against us. But today the aurora came out dancing in the sky for us. seeing the northern lights is a special moment for anyone, no matter how often you may see them.
Incredible! Throughout this whole trip to Norway and through the mountains and fjords we have seen and done so many things and each has been an amazing experience. Even here right now up in the far North, within the Arctic Circle at Alta there was one thing we could not arrange or book… to see the Northern lights. Well, all things came together for us perfectly, we were having a tour round the Igloo Hotel and having dinner when suddenly …. there they were!
Up above us and before us the green glow formed and Wow! Yes! we had our light show! Words can’t describe being there watching them live, and pictures only tell half the story. I was speechless and have now physically seen them a first time and experienced one of my lifelong dreams. Here are some of the pics we managed to take……
The best weather is a dark, clear night, preferably when there is a new moon not a full one. Some people say that a clear and very cold day that leads into night can increase the chances too.
The best time of year is winter time. In the arctic circle the days are short and the dark nights longer. The sun moves away a lot more too so you can see them better and more clearly. On very rare occasions you may get to see them in very northern places during August! But I would not book myself on a holiday at that time for the purpose of experiencing them.
What a perfect place too. Deep in the Norwegian Forest, at an Ice Igloo, seeing nature’s finest light show.
Since this day I have seen the northern Lights many more times, I consider myself very fortunate. I have seen from planes whilst flying over Russia. In Canada I saw them randomly whilst travelling across the prairie. I have even seen them from near my house when living in Cumbria.
Once seen, never forgotten.
Incredible! Throughout this whole trip to Norway and through the mountains and fjords we have seen and done so many things and each has been an amazing experience. Even here right now up in the far North, within the Arctic Circle at Alta there was one thing we could not arrange or book… to see the Northern lights. Well, all things came together for us perfectly, we were having a tour round the Igloo Hotel and having dinner when suddenly …. there they were!
Up above us and before us the green glow formed and Wow! Yes! we had our light show! Words can’t describe being there watching them live, and pictures only tell half the story. I was speechless and have now physically seen them a first time and experienced one of my lifelong dreams. Here are some of the pics we managed to take……
Where is best to see the Northern Lights?
To see them yourself you need to be in the right place, at the right time of year and also have some luck with the weather and conditions. The nearer you are to the North Pole the better chance you have of seeing them. Hence most pictures you see of the aurora are from places like Canada, Alaska, Sweden, Iceland, Finland and here were I was in Norway. I was in the Arctic circle within Norway so had an even better chance.
Weather and Unpredictable
There are many factors that determine whether you will see the lights. I solar flare a couple of days before helps them to reach further south, But if there are clouds in the sky then naturally you won’t see very much.
The best weather is a dark, clear night, preferably when there is a new moon not a full one. Some people say that a clear and very cold day that leads into night can increase the chances too.
The best time of year is winter time. In the arctic circle the days are short and the dark nights longer. The sun moves away a lot more too so you can see them better and more clearly. On very rare occasions you may get to see them in very northern places during August! But I would not book myself on a holiday at that time for the purpose of experiencing them.
Watching In Awe
As it was my first time there was a battle going on. Being mesmerised and seeing them with my own eyes against the travel photographer in me wanting to capture the memories. I was lucky enough to do both. The lights may show for only a minute or they may linger for a long time through the night, you never know.
What a perfect place too. Deep in the Norwegian Forest, at an Ice Igloo, seeing nature’s finest light show.
Since this day I have seen the northern Lights many more times, I consider myself very fortunate. I have seen from planes whilst flying over Russia. In Canada I saw them randomly whilst travelling across the prairie. I have even seen them from near my house when living in Cumbria.
Once seen, never forgotten.
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