Northern Lights
The ethereal dancing light phenomenon known as aurora borealis (translates as dawn of the north) can be viewed from vantage points across the northern hemisphere. Dean Newton takes a look into where you could travel to, when and how this bucket list topper can best be experienced
The northern lights’ glow occurs when electrons from solar winds and the poles of the northern hemisphere’s magnetic fields combine with atmospheric gases. Prior to science figuring all this out, people were free to make their own assumptions, and understandably, they assumed them to be godly or other-worldly.
The Chinese, for example, associated the lights with dragons and believed them to be part of skyward battle between good and evil, Inuit tribes assumed the Aurora was the ghostly spirits of dead people playing a macabre ball game with the skull of a walrus (obviously) and the Fins believed in a fire fox who could run so fast that the sparks from his tail would fly into the sky.
The lack of a celestial artist makes the spectacle no less mind blowing and, while the best viewing will be at the peak of an 11 year solar cycle which began in 2014, there are plenty of places around the world to see the lights without waiting.
The main elements to consider on your light seeking quest are light pollution, latitude and clear skies. Areas at least 30km from cities and heavy population are best to avoid the accumulative effect of city lights and you’re unlikely to see the Aurora anywhere more southerly than 35 degrees north, however there’s more to it than simply heading up country. The lights occur in an oval band offset from the earth’s north magnetic pole (not the same as the north pole) by around 20 degrees.
As luck would have it, our own fair shores lie in the sweet spot of said latitude and there are numerous vantage points around the country. While it’s true that they can be viewed throughout the UK, as we’re in the trough of the solar activity cycle, the best opportunities are further north, coastal or on higher ground.
Many budding sky watchers flock to Galloway Forest Park; home to the only Dark Sky Park in the UK. Other good options include the Moray Coast, Cairngorms or the west coast around Ullapool and rural Aberdeenshire. Autumn and winter offer the most viewing activity but be prepared to exercise some patience, there are no guarantees. AuroraWatch UK is a fantastic resource for monitoring solar activity and getting alerts of where and when viewings will be possible, download the app or follow their social media for up-to-the-minute updates.
There are certainly ways to mitigate the potential disappointment of missing the phenomenon but it’s best to consider seeing the lights as a bonus, as such if you can organize activities around your hunting then all the better. One of our favourite options is to get a flight booked to Reykjavik and book yourself onto the Aurora Floating Tour. You’ll float around in a natural hot spring, the oldest swimming pool in Iceland, where the water holds at around 39 degrees. Relaxing music plays from underwater speakers while you succumb to an in-water massage and, if you’re lucky, watch the night sky dance.
Normally heading to bed would be ‘game over’ in terms of sky watching but not so here, not if you book into a bubble lodge(above). “What’s that?” you say, well it’s an inflated bubble structure in a secluded part of the forest, pressurized with a noiseless ventilation system and a thermostat, meaning you’re toasty even in the Icelandic winter. Best yet, you can gaze the stars, sky and nature from your cosy double bed, kinda like camping, except it’s fun. Your best shot at a sighting in Iceland is from September to mid April, this spell offers the darkest nights and clearest weather.
Finally, why not turn your quest into a fantastic Christmas adventure and head to see Santa in Finnish Lapland at the same time. Fly into Helsinki then then head to the countryside to the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort where you’ll find plenty to do, such as reindeer safaris, snowsports and visiting Santa in his huge Celebration House. Best though is the accommodation, opt for a Kelo-glass Igloo which offers a best-of-both-worlds combination of cosy luxury log cabin and glass-roofed igloo dome for star gazing, Santa spying and, our raison d’être, Aurora watching – and a big bucket list tick
Images:
Main Image Lola Akinmade Åkerström
Tromsø, Norway © Bård Løken/Visitnorway.com
Kattfjordeidet, Kvaløya © Gaute Bruvik / visitnorway.com
Bubble Lodge
FACT FILE
Galloway Forest Park,www.gallowayforestpark.com or www.visitscotland.com
AuroraWatch UK, aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk
Aurora Floating Tour, www.floatingtours.com
Bubble lodges, www.buubble.com
Kelo-glass igloos, www.kakslauttanen.fi