Where is a good place to see the Northern Light
 

Can somebody please give me some advices as to where and when could I see the northern light in Europe.

Hi KY,

Northern Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia.

The Northern Lights (plural) are also visible from Alaska and Northern Canada.

They are caused by electromagnetic radiation in the upper atmosphere.

There is no guarantee that they will be visible on any given night.

Hi ira,

Thanks for your info. Any idea which cities and which month in winter is the best time?

According to Bill Bryson, December in Lapland is supposed to be the best time and place to view the Northern Lights.
JG

Hi,

I've seen them as far south as northern NH in the U.S. but by far the best I've ever seen was off the coast of Norway just above the Arctic Circle. Never been to Alaska but hears it's also fantastic.

MM

They're visible from most high latitude areas, the problem most often being that winters can be cloudy, hence obscure the aurora. If location is no problem, then go far enough north that it will be cold enough that rain clouds won't likely interfere; also get away from city lights. Norway, Finland, Sweden, Iceland come to mind.

I've seen great displays in Alaska and Scotland, but you have to have a bit of luck too.

For what it's worth, I've seen them in northern suburbs of Boston, Mass., but that was an extraordinary event.

As to when, they can occur whenever there's the appropriate sort of solar "disturbance," but they can be SEEN best in winter months with long nights, obviously. The thing that surprised me is that they also can be heard.

Here is a useful site re:aurora/Finland and predictions:
http://www.fmi.fi/faq/index_5.html

I suggest you go to Tromsoe in Nothern Norway. The best time will be Nov-Febr.You can also take a trip with the coastal steamer (Hurtigruten ) from Tromsoe to get away from the city light. Visit Nordlysobservatoriet.
geo.phys.uit.no/articl/North-Light.html

Any place above the Arctic Circle, so that means Norway, Sweden, Finland or Russia. We see them also in southern Finland, but ten times less often (and less spectacular) than in Lapland. End of September to beginning of April. When the sky is cloudless and it is not snowing. Which makes inland better than coastal areas.