Lapland: hunting Northern Lights complete guide

What comes to your mind when you hear about Lapland? Santa Clause? Snowy winter? But did you know that Lapland is one of the best areas in the world to observe the northern lights? Northern Lights appears here 200 days during the year! Here you’ll find a complete guide where and how to find Aurora Lights.

Our main goal for this trip was to see this atmospheric phenomenon which is called northern lights or aurora. But first of all let’s get better understanding what is aurora and why should go so far away to see it.

What exactly are Northern Lights, and why do they only appear near magnetic poles?

“Northern Lights” is also known as “Aurora Borealis”. It’s a natural phenomenon that occurs in the polar regions of the world, such as Norway, Sweden, Finland (Lapland), Iceland, and Canada, among others.

It is a bright, colorful light show that appears in the night sky when charged particles from the sun collide with gases in the Earth’s atmosphere. The colors of the Northern Lights can range from green, pink, yellow, blue, and purple, and the intensity and movement of the lights can vary.

The Northern Lights appear in the polar regions because they are the areas closest to the Earth’s magnetic poles, where the planet’s magnetic field is strongest. The Earth’s magnetic field acts like a shield that protects the planet from the charged particles that are constantly streaming out from the sun.

However, near the magnetic poles, the magnetic field is weaker, and some of these charged particles can penetrate the Earth’s atmosphere and collide with gas molecules, producing the colorful light show of the Northern Lights.

In addition to the Earth’s magnetic field, the solar activity also plays a role in the occurrence of the Northern Lights. The intensity and frequency of the lights are affected by the sun’s 11-year solar cycle, with the most frequent and intense Northern Lights occurring during the peak of the solar cycle.

So, the combination of the Earth’s magnetic field, the location of the magnetic poles, and the solar activity all contribute to the appearance of the Northern Lights in the polar regions.

When is the best time to see Northern Lights?

The best time to see the Northern Lights (also known as aurora borealis) in Lapland is during the winter months, from September to March. The peak season for viewing the Northern Lights is in December and January when the nights are longest and the sky is darkest. During these months, there are more hours of darkness, and the probability of seeing the Northern Lights is higher.

However, it’s important to note that the Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, and their visibility is dependent on several factors, including solar activity, weather conditions, and light pollution. So even during the peak season, there is no guarantee that you will see the Northern Lights on a particular night.

It’s also worth noting that Lapland can be very cold during the winter months, with temperatures often dropping well below freezing. So it’s important to dress warmly with multiple layers and bring appropriate winter gear, such as a warm hat, gloves, and boots. Additionally, it’s important to plan for adequate accommodations, transportation, and other logistics to ensure a safe and comfortable trip.

How to hunt Aurora Lights?

Hunting for the Aurora Lights can be an exciting adventure. We decided to go to Äkäslompolo which is a cozy small town in the middle of Lapland and close to Ylläs Ski Resort so during day time we can ski and hunt aurora during nights. This is one The best part of staying in Äkäslompolo is that lights are being shut down at 10pm every day so you can enjoy Northern Lights directly at the streets. Also there’s huge frozen lake which is best spot to observe aurora as there’s no other lights. The best time to see the Northern Lights is during the winter months when the nights are longest and darkest, and the skies are clear.

1. Check the weather: The weather plays a crucial role in hunting for the Northern Lights. Look for clear and dark nights, with little to no cloud cover. You can use weather apps or websites to check the forecast. We used https://www.windy.com and it was perfectly accurate, so we’re able to identify when the sky is clear to go out.
2. Check the aurora forecast: There are several websites and apps that provide aurora forecasts based on the solar activity and geomagnetic conditions. Check these forecasts to know when and where the Northern Lights are most likely to appear. We’re using a few pretty useful resources which will be described in next section.
3. Be patient: Seeing the Northern Lights requires patience and perseverance. It may take several hours of waiting in the cold and dark to see them.
4. Dress warmly: Dress in warm layers and bring warm drinks and snacks. The temperatures in the polar regions can be extremely cold, so make sure to dress appropriately.
5. Bring the right equipment: Bring a tripod, a camera with manual settings, and a wide-angle lens to capture the Northern Lights. Practice taking photos in low light conditions before your trip.
6. Book a guided tour: If you’re not familiar with the area, consider booking a guided tour that specializes in Northern Lights hunting. They will know the best locations and provide tips on how to capture the best photos.

Useful resources for Northern Lights forecasting in Lapland

We’re providing a highly detailed guide that will 90% boost your chances of seeing the aurora. Using these techniques, we were able to view the aurora on two out of the three nights. You only need to be at the proper spot on a clear night.

2. Check space weather in Finland.

Here you’ll geomagnetic activity forecast based on solar wind data in different Finland locations, just find the nearest to you station (our was Muonio). This forecast updates on hourly basis. When the values becomes with yellow or red background it means aurora should be visible in your location. Same information you can see on the map where red circle means aurora is around you.

3. Check Aurora LIVE cameras

4. Live cameras in Äkäslompolo

Tips to increase your chances of seeing the Aurora Lights: