Are they worth the trip? I'm vaguely aware they tend to be more prevalent in winter, and of course at latitudes around the Arctic Circle, it's darker then and I suspect the views and colors would be strikingly more vivid and bright than when the sun is barely or not even below the horizon! But I've only got from mid-June to mid-July to consider traveling that far north. So I'd like to hear from others who have seen them, as to when would make sense, IF summer would make sense at all, and what are some of the ways you've gotten to where they looked the best. I'd particularly like to hear about trains north from Norway, Sweden, or Finland. Thx. Tom ps. Yes, I'm well aware I could make the trip at any time and not see any at all!
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15781 posts
The thing is, you you can only see them in the dark and at that time of year it doesn't get dark. Even for the 3-4 hours that the sun is below the horizon, it is still pretty light out.
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
It won't happen.
Posted by
Troy, Oh, USA
2804 posts
That time of the year you will see the Midnight Sun. You could fly into Kirkenes, it a small town that sits on the border of Norway and Russia, lovely town. Kirkenes in 240 miles north of the Arctic Circle. We were there in June, then we drove north up to the North Cape. Offering stunning landscapes of Arctic coast and deep blue sea, Nordkapp (North Cape) is a scenic cliff in the far North of Norway that rises 300 m /985 ft above the Arctic Ocean. As you drive up you will hundreds of wild reindeers, drive the Lapland...it is so special you would truly enjoy it.
Kirkenes is situated between two timezones; Helsinki and Moscow. In Kirkenes, , which lies in the municipality of Sør-Varanger, people speak Norwegian, Sami, Finnish and Russian. The small mining town has approximately 3,300 inhabitants. There is a whole world of experiences awaiting you: Mountains, fjords, forests, lakes, the midnight sun between 15 May and 28 July.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
The sky isn't dark enough in summer. You simply won't see them in the northern hemisphere in June-July. If that's the only time you can travel and you REALLY want to see the aurora, head to the southern hemisphere.
Posted by
OP
Easley, SC, USA
306 posts
Pretty much what I thought. Thx, everyone.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17418 posts
If you want to see the aurora in summer, your chances are better in North America, in August. Here is a chart explaining why and where: http://www.gi.alaska.edu/AuroraForecast/SummerViewing We were in Denali National Park last August (latitude around 63 degrees) and people with us saw a good display on August 19 or 20 at 3 am. (We were not up at that hour and did not see it!)
Posted by
Kurikka, Finland
92 posts
Lived in Scandinavia nearly 25 yrs. & sorry, but like others have said it's not going to happen in July. You would have better chances in Winnipeg/Duluth/Toronto etc. where the night sky does get properly dark in July. In Finland/Sweden/Norway anywhere far enough north to have the lights more commonly is so far north the sky doesn't get dark in July. -Or if the night sky does get rather dark, it's because of a severe storm system so you STILL won't see any northern lights. I have seen them in mid-August. That's about the earliest you have a dark sky on a clear night so you could see them. If you're out looking at about 1:30-2 AM (i.e. when it's dark).