We ask our expert Astronomer our most frequently asked question – When is the best time to see the Northern Lights?

I have worked in astronomy and astrophotography for almost 10 years. I have been lucky to see the aurora borealis many times after spending nearly 3 years living in the Arctic Circle, often with the Aurora Zone. This is a question I get asked at least once a week from friends and social media followers.

I believe the answer to when the best time to see the Northern Lights can be split up into three categories – Solar Cycle, Location and Seasons.

Solar Cycle

The Sun and its solar cycle has a huge effect on when and how we see the northern lights. This period happens about every 11 years. It is when the Sun is most active. This leads to more frequent and intense auroras.

During solar maximum, the Sun releases more solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs), sending charged particles toward Earth. When these particles enter our atmosphere, they create beautiful displays. These displays show colors like green, purple, and red. They occur in the aurora zone.

This increased activity leads to brighter and more widespread auroras. I have seen displays in Northern Finland that danced on and off for hours.

Some of these displays have lasted for days. Displays like this only occur once a year in the UK if we’re lucky, under the aurora zone, this displays can be observed 5 nights a week! The difference in the number of displays really is that dramatic.

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Location

The best time to see the Northern Lights depends on where you are. If you want to see them from the UK, you will be very lucky to see the Aurora twice a year. This is true even when the sun is most active. To see the northern lights from the UK and enjoy them fully, a strong solar storm is needed. Even then, there is no guarantee they will be visible because of the UK weather.

To be clear, the chances of seeing the northern lights in the UK are low. When they do appear, the displays are not as impressive as those in the aurora zone. This zone lies near the Earth’s magnetic poles, where people often see the northern and southern lights.

The aurora borealis can be seen in the aurora zone from August to April each year. Even when the Sun’s activity is low, it may still be visible a few times a week. The best place to see the northern lights is in the aurora zone. This area can explored on our many tours to Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland.

Georgia Kenny, Alex Charlton, Antti Pietikainen

Seasons

Around March and September, aurora activity peaks. This happens because of the Russell-McPherron effect.

This effect is partly due to Earth’s magnetic field. It also relates to Earth’s tilt toward the Sun during the equinoxes. This tilt makes it easier for solar wind to transfer energy into Earth’s magnetosphere.

During the equinoxes, Earth’s magnetic field aligns with the solar wind. This alignment increases geomagnetic storms. As a result, auroras become brighter and more frequent. These months also offer mild temperatures and balanced day-night cycles, making aurora hunting more comfortable compared to the frigid winter months.

The equinoxes often bring clearer skies than deep winter, improving visibility. Popular aurora destinations like ours experience some of their best displays during this time no matter where we are in the solar cycle.

Markku Inkila

In conclusion, the best time to see the Northern Lights is during solar maximum and around the equinoxes (March & September) due to increased geomagnetic activity. For the best displays, visit the aurora zone between August and April, where auroras are frequent, even during low solar activity.

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