Types of Aurora

Types of Aurora

by kevin-palmerNo Comments
The aurora borealis takes many forms, and every single display is different. Time of night, solar wind speed, magnetic field strength, moonlight, and many other factors influence how it looks. The northern lights also appear different depending on who is watching. The more stargazing experience someone has, and the younger their eyes are, the more details they will see. It's also important to remember that cameras will always see more colors than the human eye does. Cameras can take long exposures, while our brains cannot. If you chase auroras long enough, these are some of the different types you might expect to see. Curtains In the Arctic, auroral curtains are very common. Stripes of green, purple, or red swirl across the sky. These shapes change rapidly and can quickly morph into other types of aurora. Arc Auroral arcs are not the most exciting type of aurora. That's because they are constrained to the northern horizon and don't show very much movement. But when...
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Guide to Seeing the Aurora in Greenland

by kevin-palmerNo Comments
Greenland is a place unlike anywhere else. The world's largest island is bigger than Alaska. Yet 80% of it is covered in an ice sheet and uninhabitable. Only 56,583 people live here, giving it a population density of 0.1/sq mi. Towering mountains rise straight out of the sea among uncountable rocky islands. Some of the deepest fjords in the world stretch inland. And the purest water on Earth flows straight out of the glaciers. Icebergs are a constant presence on the coast. Stretching from a latitude of 60° all the way up to 83°, Greenland lies completely within the auroral oval. Virtually anywhere is a great place to see the celestial phenomenon. Compared with its neighbor Iceland, clear skies are much easier to come by. Well off the beaten path, Greenland should be on every adventure traveler's list. As a territory of Denmark, Greenland uses the Danish Krone and speaks Danish in addition to Greenlandic. Icebergs stranded on a beach in...
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Guide to Seeing the Aurora in Sweden

Guide to Seeing the Aurora in Sweden

by kevin-palmerNo Comments
Located in the far north of Sweden at a latitude of 68 degrees, Abisko is arguably the best spot for aurora viewing in all of Europe. But it is less popular than Iceland or Tromsø, Norway. While I wouldn't call it cheap, Sweden is certainly less expensive than the aforementioned countries. There are never any guarantees, but the microclimate around Abisko gives a higher likelihood of clear skies than other places in Scandinavia. I had a chance to visit in March of 2019. Of the 6 nights I spent there, it was clear enough to see the aurora on 4 of those nights. Even when the KP index was only 1, the lights were still very active. I'm writing this article for others who may want to plan a visit to this special place. Getting Here Considering how far north it is, Abisko is surprisingly accessible. The nearest larger city is Kiruna, with a population of 18,000. The airport there is served by Norwegian...
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10 Best Places in the World To See the Aurora

10 Best Places in the World To See the Aurora

by kevin-palmerNo Comments
/*! elementor - v3.10.2 - 29-01-2023 */ .elementor-column .elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--spacer-size)}.e-con{--container-widget-width:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer{width:var(--container-widget-width,var(--spacer-size));--align-self:var(--container-widget-align-self,initial);--flex-shrink:0}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container,.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer{height:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--container-widget-height,var(--spacer-size))} If it's your dream to see the aurora in person, then you can't do better than to visit one of these places. All the locations listed (except for #10), are situated underneath the auroral oval. This means that the aurora may be visible on any clear night, even when solar activity is very low. Most locations experience the midnight sun in the summer, which is to be avoided if your goal is to see the northern lights. In the Arctic regions, aurora season generally lasts from late August to early April. The middle of winter experiences the longest nights (sometimes for a month at a time). This may increase your odds of seeing the lights, but you also have to consider the weather. Winter is often stormier and cloudier, and of course temperatures are at their coldest. If you want to combine a northern lights trip with activities that you can do during the...
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