I am currently on a trip whose primary purpose is being in search of aurora borealis — which are also known as the northern lights — but unlike the three times I have traveled to places where I successfully witnessed the total eclipse of the sun and experiencing a clear starry night out in the center of the Outback in Australia, viewing the northern lights are typically more of a fluke of luck than having a strategic plan.
In Search of Aurora Borealis or the Northern Lights
Despite the numerous tools that are available and the number of tours that specialize in viewing aurora borealis, predicting when and where the northern lights will occur is tricky. Unlike a total solar eclipse, they can appear in the sky for an indeterminate amount of time not far from where one might not be able to see them at all. The northern lights do not follow a path; and there is usually no peak time to see them — although between up to two hours prior to midnight and up to two hours after midnight is recommended to experience the best of aurora borealis.
Cloud cover in the sky can impede upon the viewing of both a total solar eclipse and aurora borealis. That is one aspect that the two celestial phenomena can reliably share. However, viewing a total solar eclipse is virtually guaranteed if the sky is clear and one is positioned in the center of the path of totality. Viewing aurora borealis is based more on pure luck and a variety of changing conditions.
One can spend a week in a prime area during the peak times of the year and never see the northern lights appear. One can spend merely a night and view a spectacular show.
One never knows what one will experience; and when I embarked on this current trip, I had no idea when — or even if — I would see the northern lights in all of their glory…
…and as with my trips to see total solar eclipses, an itinerary was created so that the trip is not a total loss or waste of time and money and effort if I am not fortunate enough to view aurora borealis.
Final Boarding Call
I have been to Alaska twice, Iceland once, Finland once, and Sweden once — but my visits were either during the wrong time of the year to try to see the northern lights; in the wrong areas; or hampered by inclement weather. I am hoping that this trip will be successful in that regard, as it includes the Laplands of northern Finland and northern Sweden, Stockholm in Sweden, Oslo and Bergen in Norway; and Reykjavik and southwestern Iceland during the heart of autumn. I procured a low airfare for a round trip airline ticket between the United States and Norway and booked lodging arrangements in order to chase down the northern lights.
Please stay tuned to see if I was successful in hunting down aurora borealis, as I am doing so without the resources of tours or tools…
Stars twinkle in the sky over the Outback in the centre of Australia. They are almost guaranteed to view — unlike the aurora borealis. Photograph ©2024 by Brian Cohen.
