Finally! It is here! The Northern Lights season is here! We are very stoked. We love it. The beautiful fall colours, spectacular sunsets and then, the magnificent Northern Lights in the darkness.
What are the Northern Lights?
Well, we are glad you asked! To see the lights, the Sun needs to have a solar storm. The Sun shoots gas particles out into space, and when they hit the Earth’s atmosphere, the particles get sucked to the North and South Poles. The lights are then different types of gases entering the atmosphere at different altitudes.
The lights can range from white to blue, green to red and purple. Most common is white and green, but on a good night, you will be able to see the whole spectrum!
Where can you see the Northern Lights?
It is a good idea to check the Aurora Borealis’ forecast on the Icelandic Met Office’s website. There you can see how strong the lights are going to be and where the skies are clear.
That’s the downside of the lights, there can be a spectacular light show in the sky, but if it is cloudy, you will not see it.
Does it have to be freezing to see the lights?
Many people believe that it has to be freezing to see the lights, but that’s not true. There just have to have been some solar storms, clear skies and darkness. But since it is usually quite cold when people see the lights, since it happens during winter, many believe it has to be freezing as well.
In fact, if we didn’t have the fabulous midnight sun during the summer months, we would be able to see the Northern Lights all year round!
And lastly...
Dress well, in layers and bring your camera and tripod. We have already written a post about how to photograph the lights here, but we also recommend you just enjoy watching them. Don’t forget to see while you’re fiddling with the camera!
NEW VOLCANO ERUPTION IN ICELAND - GUIDE TO MERADALIR
