Searching for the `Northern Lights`
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Searching for the `Northern Lights`
Having tried both Norway and Iceland ,sadly in vain, I`m turning my face towards Canada and Alaska, anyone reckon I`ve got a chance of seeing these `Lights`? If so ,where?
I understand all the factors needed for them to appear,but basically it`s just dumb luck,I`m pretty sure.
I reckon that I could make a fortune going to one place just so others could see the elsewhere!!! (of course these others would pay for me to do this!!!!)
I`m joking (sort of).
So my friends and family like to joke.
C`mon, someone can give me heart,surely........
I understand all the factors needed for them to appear,but basically it`s just dumb luck,I`m pretty sure.
I reckon that I could make a fortune going to one place just so others could see the elsewhere!!! (of course these others would pay for me to do this!!!!)
I`m joking (sort of).
So my friends and family like to joke.
C`mon, someone can give me heart,surely........
#2
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,412
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
#3
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,466
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
seeing the northern lights is just being in the right place at the right time...you can't predict. if you want to increase your chances, go stay up north for a few weeks/months. we saw really small ones last weekend in northern alberta but it's been a few years since i've seen anything significant.
#4
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,465
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Lots of aurora lately - the sun seems to be active.
It's not really dumb luck, but more like taking advantage of knowledge and reports of sun's activity. You do need a clear sky though - having said that, I've seen that seasoned astronomers have taken awesome videos of aurora through passing waves of cloud.
So you need to check out - is the sun spewing out CME's (check out Spaceweather.com)?, am I far enough north? (52 degrees north is usually OK, although the further north you are the better), and is the sky clear and really dark? (city lights can "drown out" the delicate northern lights).
There you go
It's not really dumb luck, but more like taking advantage of knowledge and reports of sun's activity. You do need a clear sky though - having said that, I've seen that seasoned astronomers have taken awesome videos of aurora through passing waves of cloud.
So you need to check out - is the sun spewing out CME's (check out Spaceweather.com)?, am I far enough north? (52 degrees north is usually OK, although the further north you are the better), and is the sky clear and really dark? (city lights can "drown out" the delicate northern lights).
There you go
#5
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 963
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm in Calgary. We have a photo club at my work and one of the gentlemen in it specializes in photos of the northern lights.
He's part of a social networking group that tracks solar flare activity to determine when they're more likely to be out and if it's a clear night will drive an hour or two out of the city to get away from the city lights. They will wait up most of the night waiting for the lights to appear and take photos if/when they do. Some of his photos are absolutely amazing.
As Borealis said, it's not luck; it's knowledge and patience.
He's part of a social networking group that tracks solar flare activity to determine when they're more likely to be out and if it's a clear night will drive an hour or two out of the city to get away from the city lights. They will wait up most of the night waiting for the lights to appear and take photos if/when they do. Some of his photos are absolutely amazing.
As Borealis said, it's not luck; it's knowledge and patience.
#8
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 222
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Check this site often: http://www.gi.alaska.edu/AuroraForecast/NorthAmerica/
Dress warm and stay outside at night away from city lights and look up towards the north.
Dress warm and stay outside at night away from city lights and look up towards the north.
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
flygirl
United States
12
Feb 27th, 2017 11:39 AM