Topic: Northern Lights

[GillE]

I have an ambition.  It's a relatively modest ambition, but one I would like to accomplish in the next couple of years.  I want to take my husband somewhere he can see the Northern Lights.  Neither of us have much of a wanderlust - indeed, we don't even have passports - but I know how much it would mean to him if only he could see them.

I believe the best time to see the Northern Lights is from November to February, but what's the best way to go about it?  I know Mother Nature is fickle and nothing is guaranteed, but if you guys were to set out to see the Northern Lights, how would you go about it?

[Reno]

Go north??

[Clive]

You stand the best chance of seeing the northern lights when there are lots of sunspots on the face of the Sun.  The solar cycle is 11 years and solarmax is around 2 years away - that is when there will be most activity.  A the moment there are very few sunspots at all.
Having said that, I saw a magnificent display from my garden in Wales just 2 months ago!
Bob is correct when he says to go north.  Scotland is good but Norway is much better because you will get more clear skies during the long dark nights.  There is some truth about November onwards, but they can be seen any time of the year.  You have to be lucky.  Worth checking the Spaceweather.com website as they will inform you if there is a coronal mass ejection (CMB) heading our way.  They will even phone you if you so wish!

[sam]

there are also some planes tours which take you up.. though I'm not sure how successful they tend to be.

[Simon]

Did you see the Joanna Lumley thing on TV last year, when she went, Gill?  Not sure if it's still available on iPlayer, but there is a DVD.

[GillE]

Yes, I saw the Joanna Lumley programme and recorded it.  Wasn't it absolutely fabulous (sic)?  Maurice was totally captivated and it's quite clear that a chance to see the Northern Lights would be a dream come true for him.  Clive, if you ever see them again in the UK, pop a message up here please so we can share the spectacle.

From what I can make out, I think that travelling to the north of Norway would probably be the most likely means to achieve success.  It might also provide opportunities for dog sledding and a visit to the ice hotel.  I've bookmarked the Spaceweather website and I'm thinking that early 2011 might be the time to make the trip.  I presume the anticipated solar activity will be occuring then?  It will certainly coincide with a significant birthday for me, which would be a grand excuse for a bit of indulgence.

[Rik]

Go for it, Gill, they've always called out to me at some primal level.

[Simon]

Another "go for it!" vote here!  Can we all come with you? 

[Clive]

There should certainly be more activity by 2011 Gill.  Thr Sun has been spotless for nearly two years now and that is extremely unusual at this point in the cycle.  There are signs that activity is starting up again but that website I gave you is your friend.  I will certainly make a post if I know of any activity. 

[sam]

I'm planning on going north during the next solar max to see some aurora... Norway also sounded good to me :-D

Oh btw for the UK worth subscribing too: http://www.dcs.lancs.ac.uk/iono/aurorawatch/

[GillE]

Oooh, that's a handy site, Sam .

Although His Lordship is keen to see the Northern Lights, he isn't keen to travel somewhere which would mean leaving our dogs behind.  So it sounds as if Norway's out but Scotland's a possibility.  I'd much prefer Norway because there's more likely to be cloud cover in Scotland, so I guess we'll have to discuss it through.

Wasn't there a report recently which said a particular place in Scotland is superb for astronomy?

[Rik]

You could go to the Shetlands, Gill.

[Clive]

It's Galloway Forest Park Gill. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galloway_Forest_Park

[GillE]

That's the one -thanks Clive .

Shetland is also a definite possibility.

[Simon]

Oh, is that the one which is supposed to be the darkest in the UK?