![]() ![]() Now I Know The Best Time to See the Northern Lights, When Should I Plan My Trip For? The good news is that the next solar maximum is set for between 20 – so not that far away – and don’t forget the solar activity tends to build as it’s moving towards the maximum too. As such 2017/18 were likely to be the best years for seeing the Northern Lights over the course of recent years. We tend to see strong displays of aurora borealis for two to three years before the Solar Maximum and after the Solar Maximum. When Was the Last Solar Maximum? Can I See the Northern Lights This Year? Similarly, it will also reach the Solar Minimum, when the solar activity is at its lowest every 11 years as part of the cycle. The sun goes through an activity cycle, which takes roughly 11 years to complete – each 11 years, it reaches the Solar Maximum point, which is when solar activity is at its highest. The water generally freezes in the best Aurora viewing regions by the time you reach November. On the downside, you’ll need to stay up later for your chance to see them, as the daylight hours are longer.Īnother benefit of travelling to see the Northern Lights during the warmer months is an increased chance of seeing the lights reflected on the surface of a large body of water. Whether that’s true or not, the weather is certainly warmer at these times, so a Northern Lights viewing trip is more pleasant. ![]() There are more geomagnetic storms in the Earth’s magnetic field at this time, meaning more photons and electrons make it through to the atmosphere to cause the phenomena. ![]() While you could assume that the winter months would be the best time to see the Northern Lights, there’s reasonable evidence to show that the Vernal and Autumnal Equinoxes (in March and September respectively) are actually a very good time to see them. The Equinoxes Northern Lights in Iceland during the Autumn Equinox (c) Julianna Barnaby Some say that there are fewer clouds after the winter snows have fallen (generally March and April), and others to avoid autumn as Northern hemisphere autumns are cloudier, but it’s not worth planning the timing of your whole trip on this basis. It’s easier to see the aurora when there are fewer clouds hiding it, but saying which months are likely to be less cloudy is a risky business. Cloud Cover Some cloud cover can add interest but too much will block you from seeing the lightsĬloud Cover is one such thing. There are a lot of other factors that influence when’s the best time to see the Northern Lights but these are almost impossible to predict. You can buy a telescope to help with viewing the lights, but generally they can be seen with the naked eye. Some years are better for aurora activity than others.īecause the aurora borealis is dependent on solar activity, when there is a lot of solar activity, the Northern Lights are more frequent and displays are more intense. Is There Anything Else I Need to Consider When Looking at the Best Time to See the Northern Lights? Photons (light particles) are emitted as part of the reaction between the electrons, protons, oxygen and nitrogen – and together these photons create the Northern Lights. The magnetic field is weaker at the North and South poles, so more of the electrons and protons make it through at these points. A large proportion of the electrons and protons are deflected by the earth’s magnetic field, but some make it to the upper atmosphere. ![]()
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