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In southern and west Iceland where we were, the Kp aurora activity had to be a 3 or more to see the Northern Lights. Some nights we left empty handed even though the forecast looked promising, and some nights ended up clearer for much longer than predicted. Also, as with any weather predictions, it’s not 100% accurate. Some nights we drove out a few hours away where it was predicted to have less cloud coverage, and some nights we thought chances were good ended up changing a few hours later. On this chart, you’re hoping to get white areas near you which means clear skies! Since the weather in Iceland is so unpredictable, the chart is constantly changing, so plan your time accordingly. We used this chart for Iceland to plan, but you can google “aurora forecast + your location” to see the activity level and the expected cloud coverage. Check the Weather & Activity Charts All the Time. It can happen anytime it’s dark, so we ventured out during sunset. Hours: The peak hours are from 11pm to 2am, but we’ve seen activity around 9pm. If the same spot on the sun is active, you will see it again in the next rotation.

The sun revolves on its axis every 27-28 days, so if you see that there was an active aurora night (such as last Sunday – the day we flew out BOOO!), mark that on your calendars. Month: Statistically, the best aurora activity is in September and March, but it’s also good during the winter months (October-February) when it’s dark.ĭay: There is a 28-day prediction technique. To see the highest activity, book your trip now (or wait till 2025)! It’s an 11-year cycle, with its peak of highest solar activity in 2014. Year: The Northern Lights are always around, but depending on the activity of the sun, it goes through a cycle where it’s brighter and dimmer. Our first night, the tour bus left as we were shooting during strong activity 2. You can maximize your time when you seek out spots on our own. You can book a Northern Lights tour where they take care of the logistics of time and location, but because of the unpredictable nature of the aurora combined with the unpredictable weather in Iceland, we opted out from taking a tour. Likewise, to see the Southern Lights (aurora australis), you go to the Antarctic Circle. To see the Northern Lights (aurora borealis), you must go to the Arctic Circle – which includes Alaska, northern Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Siberia).

The Northern Lights are most visible at high latitudes because that’s where the Earth’s magnetic field is the strongest.

#ALTERNATIVE TO XSCOPE HOW TO#

SCIENCE! HOW TO SEE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS 1. It’s more fun thinking of it that way, but it’s actually caused by solar particles colliding with the Earth’s atmosphere and emitting burning gases (oxygen gives you yellow and green and nitrogen gives you blue colors).

I remember watching Brother Bear and still thinking the Northern Lights were made of magic rather than being a scientific phenomenon.

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