But can you actually see the northern lights on a cruise? The conditions must be just right, but it’s highly likely to see this magical and sometimes elusive scientific phenomenon on a Northern Lights cruise sailing the Arctic Circle during the long, dark winter nights.
Which month is best for Northern Lights?
The best time to see the Northern Lights is on clear nights around midnight during the Aurora season starting at the end of August and finishing by mid-April. However, if you are at a lower latitude and there is a big solar storm, you can enjoy the Aurora even during the summer months, like June or July.
Is a Northern Lights tour worth it?
Northern Lights tours are great because the tour operators have been chasing the Northern Lights for years and can find the best spots for potential viewing even when there is low hanging cloud cover. Most tour operators will even offer for you to join a tour the next evening if you don’t see the Northern Lights.
Is it better to see Northern Lights from land or sea?
Being at sea avoids the artificial ambient light common on land, so the Northern Lights will be brighter and more vivid.
Can you see the Northern Lights on a boat? – Related Questions
What country has the prettiest northern lights?
What are the best places to see the Northern Lights?
- Tromso, Norway. Based in the heart of the aurora zone in the Norwegian Arctic, the city is widely regarded as one of the world’s best places to see the Northern Lights.
- Swedish Lapland.
- Reykjavik, Iceland.
- Yukon, Canada.
- Rovaniemi, Finnish Lapland.
- Ilulissat, Greenland.
Is there a guarantee to see northern lights?
Unfortunately, there is no 100% guarantee of spotting the Northern Lights. Being in the right place at the right time helps i.e. northern Norway in winter, which is why Hurtigruten feels confident enough to offer its unique Northern Lights Promise. But there are forecasts available.
What is best way to see northern lights?
The best way to see the northern lights is to head north. Most of the molecular activity that causes the northern lights happens near the Earth’s magnetic poles. For that reason, the Arctic region is an ideal location for hunting the aurora. In fact, some of the best light shows happen near or above the Arctic Circle.
When and where is the best time and place to view the northern lights?
However, they most often occur around 65º to 70º North latitudes — the Arctic Circle — which only gets significant darkness between September and March. Hence that’s the observing season in places like Alaska, northern Canada, Iceland, Lapland (northern Norway, Sweden, and Finland), and northern Russia.
Is 2022 a good year to see the northern lights?
“There will continue to be aurora viewing opportunities in 2022,” Steenburgh said. “The solar cycle is indeed ramping up and as solar activity increases, so do the chances for Earth-directed blobs of plasma, the coronal mass ejections, which drive the geomagnetic storms and aurora.”
Where is the best place in Canada to see the northern lights?
The very best place to see aurora borealis in Canada — if not the world — is the Northwest Territories, where they’re generally visible 240 nights a year. The optimal timeframe is either fall or winter (though summer is pretty good, too).
Can you see aurora borealis in Banff?
The most accessible location from the town of Banff for viewing the northern lights is Vermillion Lakes. Although they don’t provide as direct of a northerly view, the lights are often bright enough to dance over the Rundle range.
Where are northern lights best scenes?
23 Best Places to See the Northern Lights
- Healy, Alaska.
- Yellowknife, Canada.
- Saariselka, Lapland, Finland.
- Napapiirin Järvilomat, Lapland, Finland.
- Yllas, Finland.
- Vestrahorn, Iceland.
- Inishowen Peninsula, Donegal, Ireland.
- Tamok Valley, Norway.
How far is aurora borealis from Toronto?
The closest place to see the northern lights near Toronto is Torrance Barrens Dark-Sky Preserve which is northwest of the town of Gravenhurst, about two hours north of the GTA.
How long do Northern Lights last?
They don’t usually exhibit for long – they may only show for a few minutes, then glide away before returning. A good display may last for no longer than 15-30 minutes at a time, although if you’re really lucky, it could extend to a couple of hours or longer.
What is the best time to watch Northern Lights in Canada?
There are two prime Aurora seasons in Canada: late August to October, when temperatures are relatively mild; and mid-November to early April, where the sky is clear – just make sure you rug up!
Is Yellowknife or Whitehorse better for Northern Lights?
Yellowknife is really concentrated while Whitehorse is a bit spread out. If you’re in Yellowknife, there are a very few things to do in terms of activities but in Whitehorse you can ski, hike, camp and do various other activities. Yellowknife beats Whitehorse in the intensity of Northern Lights.
What is the rarest color for the Northern Lights?
On rare occasions, sunlight will hit the top part of the auroral rays to create a faint blue color. On very rare occasions (once every 10 years or so) the aurora can be a deep blood red color from top to bottom. Pink hues may also be seen in the lower area of the aurora.
Should you whistle at the Northern Lights?
Thought to be the souls of the dead, the Sámi believed you shouldn’t talk about the Northern Lights. It was also dangerous to tease them by waving, whistling or singing under them, as this would alert the lights to your presence. If you caught their attention, the lights could reach down and carry you up into the sky.
How high does KP have to be to see the Northern Lights?
To do this, you’ll check an index called Kp, a number from 0–9, which is used to rate the global geomagnetic activity for a 3-hour period. If the Kp is 5 or greater, the better your chances of seeing an aurora.
Is 2023 a good year to see the Northern Lights?
There are no guarantees, but stronger displays are therefore more likely around the spring equinox on March 20, 2023 and around the autumn equinox on September 23, 2023.