Over the last few months, there have been a few rare and exciting opportunities to see the Aurora Borealis, better known as the Northern Lights, from various locations in the UK. Millions have stayed up late to get a glimpse of one of the world’s most famous natural phenomena.
However, an equally large number were left disappointed, having expected the spectacular light show that is usually found only in the northern reaches of Lapland, something the travel professionals at the Baltic Travel Company know well.
The team has compiled a list of guidance, tips and tricks to ensure that, whether you’re planning an incredible Northern Lights holiday to see the Aurora in all its glory or would like a better experience next time the solar activity aligns in the night sky at home, you’ll know how best to see them.
Common Reasons the Northern Lights Don’t Live Up to Expectations
Northern Lights packages are among our most popular tours, with trips and excursions to unique and diverse destinations like Finland, Norway, Sweden, Greenland, and Svalbard. Many guests combine Aurora viewing with thrilling outdoor winter sports, from snowshoeing to husky sledding, cross-country skiing to snowmobile rides.
If you, too, have the Aurora on your bucket list and have struggled to see the lights, the first advice is to consider travelling further afield, ideally as far north as possible. That's because the lights are all due to the Earth's magnetic field, which is most intense at the north and south poles.
Even though we’ve been lucky enough to have the light visible above areas in the UK, the brightness and richness of the colours will never be as captivating as they are closer to the Arctic Circle.
We often talk about the Aurora Oval, which describes a band over the Earth's atmosphere. When the lights are visible further south, outside of the oval, this is due to solar activity reaching what's known as solar maximum—but this isn't an everyday occurrence. The lights are less visible and may only appear in perfect weather conditions.
Another frequent issue is that if you catch the lights outside of the frozen north, you might find the shades dancing in the light sky seem muted but look far more luminous through a lens when being photographed.
Still, it's important to appreciate that the magic quality of the lights you might have seen in images is an experience unique to the Arctic.
The Best Times of Year and Vantage Points to See the Northern Lights
One of the often misunderstood aspects of the Northern Lights is that they’re not solely reserved for December and January. In fact, the Aurora season begins as early as late September and can continue until roughly the middle of April!
This is less widely known because much depends on cloud cover, light pollution, and darkness. The lights are present much of the year in the Arctic, but they are obscured by the midnight sun season, when each 24-hour period is primarily daylight over the summer months.
In contrast, winter is cold and dark, with very little daylight, which means extended hours of darkness. The deeper night skies in rural areas and wildernesses away from the cities contrast starkly with the Aurora, which appears radiant and visible in the sky.
If you’re hoping to see the lights from home, they’ll normally be easier to see from around 11 pm until 2 am, which does mean staying up late. Any earlier or later, and the lingering light left from the daylight or the first signs of dawn will, unfortunately, limit your view or mean you can see only a dim outline of the colours.
Your location is also pivotal because, as we’ve indicated, light pollution saps the vividness of the Aurora, just as you can't see the lights well in daylight. That's why it's best to be somewhere remote.
Cloud cover plays a part, and if the weather is overcast, there’s a good chance you won't see the light at all. Our Northern Lights packages include extra services like local Aurora guides and Aurora alarms with updated forecasts, which prevent guests from heading out to see the lights when the weather conditions are suboptimal.
Tip on Seeing the Northern Lights in the UK
The best advice we'd give is to be patient if the lights are forecast, there is little or no cloud cover, and you're somewhere with minimal light pollution. We often reiterate that the Aurora is a natural marvel and something that can be tricky to predict with accuracy and with no way to control when or how often the lights will appear.
Some viewers are treated to a blazing storm of colour shortly after sunset, but they usually need to wait a few hours for true darkness to settle. With that in mind, warm, insulative clothing, a hot drink, thermal gloves, and suitable footwear are a must.
Keen photographers hoping to get a snap of the lights may get a better image through their lens than with their naked eye, and although this is partly affected by your location, it’s also because some of the shades are a little harder for our eyes to detect against a dark backdrop.
Northern Lights photographers recommend you spend as much time as you need setting up your equipment, using a focal point like a star or the moon as a manual focus, and using infinity focus settings if you have them to ensure you don’t get a blurry, grainy picture.
The lights also move at varying speeds, from slow, leisurely swirls to dramatic curves that travel fast, so it’s wise to be ready to adjust your settings on demand to ensure your photography meets your expectations.
It's also perfectly possible to photograph the Northern Lights with an ordinary smartphone, although the better the camera, the higher quality your image will be. Try shifting your settings into night mode, and you'll find your phone can more easily pick out the colours and shapes overhead.
Read more about Baltic Travel Company - Northern Lights Travel Specialist, Baltic Travel Company, Explains the Growing Interest in Holidays Less Ordinary
About Baltic Travel Company
We specialise in crafting unique, tailor-made travel experiences that showcase the diverse wonders of Europe and the Baltic region. With over 15 years of experience, our dedicated travel experts are committed to providing exceptional service and unparalleled expertise to ensure your Baltic adventure exceeds your expectations. From cultural city breaks to the inspiring northern lights and breathtaking natural landscapes, our carefully curated itineraries highlight the very best of the Nordic Region, Scandinavia, The Baltic Region, Poland, Slovakia and more. Whether you're a solo traveler, couple, or group, embark on a journey of discovery with Baltic Travel Company – your ultimate travel partner in exploring the hidden gems of the Baltics.
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Source Company: https://www.baltictravelcompany.com/
Published by: Steve OBrien