Northern lights; when & where........................

[minskey]

I've always wanted to see the Northern Lights. When & where in the UK would this be possible. I know seeing them cannot be guarenteed, but I'd love to give it a go.

Has anyone seen them? I have some time off in January and february next year so have decided I just HAVE to try next year.

Any Ideas.......................................

P.S.
I have Goggled it but have been bombarded with too much info

[VirginVegGrower]

I saw them when we went to Lapland so at Christmas (went from 24/12-31/12) and it was in Phya, Finland. They are like hulk green and gold streaks in the night sky.

[VirginVegGrower]

Ooh sorry just saw you want UK - I would say very northern tip of Scotland - close to Scandinavia

[Potstubsdustbins]

Your best chance would be in Scotland, late autumn and winter especially on cold clear nights. Apparently the solar cycle is in one of its peaks at this time and will remain so until the winter of 2012.

One of our Scots grapes maybe able to tell you more.

Colin

[Capsid]

You need fairly dark skies in the UK to see them as they usually show as a green/red/orange glow rather than the moving curtains that can be seen in Scandinavia. There is some good sunspot activity at the moment which may result in some good shows. I am subscribed to the University of Lancaster aurorawatch feed which will email you if there is any activity. So I'd recommend doing the same. But I haven't seen any glow since subscribing several years ago as it's either cloudy or the city lights are too bright. You are probably a bit too far south in The Wash to see any but they have been seen. The best thing to do is go to the Arctic circle. It's on my to do list anyway.

[VirginVegGrower]

Phya is in the Arctic Circle and you get a special stamp in your passport! It's a beautiful place but so is the rest of Northern Finland.

[Hilary B]

Orkney, away from the towns, especially in January (avoid equinox, it tends to be windy, and we never saw a decent display in windy conditions). Shetland might be even better (being further North).
We saw a few good displays in summer, but of course the nights are shorter, so less chance.
On a clear still night in December/Januaray, it actually isn't so very cold (our neighbour once spent 7 hours lying in the back garden to watch the 'Merry Dancers', that was mid December).

[Chef_uk]

You missed it a couple of weeks ago.

View All Reports of Aurora Observations

A massive geomagnetic storm meant it was visible for a lot of the UK around midnight on the 26th September. Thick cloud cover blocked it for me here in Lincolnshire though

[Aberdeenplotter]

Your best chance would be in Scotland, late autumn and winter especially on cold clear nights. Apparently the solar cycle is in one of its peaks at this time and will remain so until the winter of 2012.

One of our Scots grapes maybe able to tell you more.

Colin

<Blank Look> I live in Aberdeen and of course there is the song " The Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen" but the Northern Lights can't be seen beyond the spectre of the City Lights. I was brought up in Morayshire and the Northern lights were frequently seen there but when is another scrtach the head to no useful purpose exercise.

[Helgalush]

Some great videos on YouTube of the Northern Lights over various places on the Shetland Isles: Aurora at Wadbister, Shetland - YouTube

And some really fascinating and relaxing videos of them from Norway/Alaska and so forth as well.

[Hilary B]

Basically, the further North you go, the more frequently you get a decent display, but in 15 years in Orkney, I reckon we averages 3 or 4 good displays a year, mostly in December or January.