Best time to see Northen Lights in Norway
BEST TIME TO SEE NORTHERN LIGHTS IN NORWAY
The aurora borealis, or Northern Lights, are one of the most spectacular natural events that you will ever see. Unfortunately, you have to be in certain parts of the world, and also hope that some specific other factors come into play, in order to be able to see them. The northern counties in Norway are where you will have an excellent opportunity to see this natural wonder, but one question that we get a lot has to do with the best time to see the Northern Lights in Norway. Let’s take a moment to answer that question, whilst also taking the time to teach you a little more about the lights.
Picking the right place and conditions to see the Northern Lights in Norway
Before we get into the perfect time and conditions required to see the Northern Lights, let’s take a little moment to learn how they come about. The sun constantly sends out electrically charged particles that hurtle in the direction of our little blue and green planet. When those particles come into contact with gasses in the earth’s atmosphere, they create brightly colored lights that are prominently on display at the earth’s two poles. Since Norway is to the north, we get the aurora borealis, while the southern polar regions get the aurora australis, or Southern Lights.
The Northern Lights are generally on display every single night, but that doesn’t mean that you will always be able to see them. The best time to see the Northern Lights in Norway is between the months of October and March. This is when Norway is in the midst of the polar nights, which is when the conditions in the sky are most suited to seeing the lights in all their glorious splendor. The further north you go, the better your chances too, which is why places like Tromso and the Lofoten Islands tend to be hotspots for travelers looking to get a glimpse of the aurora borealis.
If you want the best chance of seeing the Northern Lights in the aforementioned months when they are visible, there needs to be a little bit of luck on your side too. The darker the night sky the better, and you had best hope that there are no clouds obstructing the view. You can a little to help your cause with the darkness part, and that is to get as far away as possible from the harsh glare of city lights. There are a number of organized tours that will take you out to more remote spots, which is where good things tend to happen.
If you want to narrow down your options for the best time to see Northern Lights in Norway, then seriously consider going in October, February, or March. These are absolutely the best months, as that is when has an active area facing the earth. This happens on a 27-day cycle, and is when you will see all the colors of the Northern Lights dancing in the night sky above you.