Tips on How to See the Aurora

By now, you should have seen  that viral article on how the chances of seeing the Northern Lights are going to dim drastically after next year. I have to admit – my first reaction was THANK GOD we saw them last year! Indeed, the quest to “hunt” down the Aurora has been one that has intrigued, and frustrated, mankind through the ages. While the truth is that the success of viewing the Aurora depends on luck more than anything else, I hope this article can help to shed some light on how to see the Aurora and optimise your chances of catching the amazing Northern or Southern Lights in action!

Tip #1: You Don’t Need a Tour

This first tip might come as a shock to many, given how there are plenty of Aurora-viewing tours that even promise to bring you on multiple trips if you’re not lucky the first time. What these tours provide you with is the transportation out to a remote area that has minimal light pollution, and after that it’s simply a waiting game. We took the advice of our guide in Iceland to hire a taxi driver instead, which could turn out to be a much more economical option if you are travelling in a group. Since these taxi drivers are mostly local, finding a place with little light pollution would not be difficult for them, and the advantage is you get to enjoy the lights at your own pace and privacy. 

Tip #2: It’s All About the Location

If you want to reduce the hassle of getting a driver or venturing out to see the lights, another option would be to stay at the right place. Of course, we’ve all seen pictures of that gorgeous glass igloo hotel in Finland that will allow for an Imax experience of watching the lights dance above you. But not many of us can afford to spend USD400 each night (for several nights) as we hope and pray that the lights will appear. A cheaper alternative is to look for Facebook groups with Aurora enthusiasts (such as this Aurora Australis Tasmania one that I joined) that can provide really useful tips on where the best viewing spots are! Based on the info and map provided in the group, we actually booked our Airbnb in Primrose Sands instead of Hobart so that we can hopefully increase our chances of seeing the Southern Lights. 

Tip #3: Be Prepared to Wait

A huge part of why actually seeing the Aurora is such a gratifying and awe-inspiring experience is because it is so bloody elusive. The truth is you can do your research, check the Aurora Forecast (which you should by the way!), and get excited when it says “High Activity”, but then be thwarted by bad weather, low cloud cover, or simply, luck. The funny thing about the Aurora, and life in general, is that it sometimes happens when you least expect it. But you have to have the patience and cater enough time. I wanted to increase our chances of seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland so we were there for a whole week. Thankfully I first saw the Aurora on our second night in Iceland, where we happened to be staying in a log cabin in the middle of Thingvellir National Park. Our cabin had been blasted and whipped by a crazy snow and windstorm the entire evening, and I’d lost hope of seeing anything. But at 1am, I got out of bed at a whim and just sat by the window and watched. And in the distance, faintly but surely, I watched it dance its first dance for me.

Tip #4: Go with the Right Gear

The last thing you would want at a spectacular light display is to not be able to capture it. Trust me, as much as the iPhone is amazing, it can’t do the job. You definitely need a DSLR, or at the very least a mid-range camera that will allow you to manually set the aperture, ISO and shutter speed. A tripod is also crucial because you will need to expose the lens for a long time in order to capture the lights and hands that are shaking in the wintry cold will not cut it. (Check out this article for more details on photography equipment!) Also, given how chasing the Aurora only happens in the winter, please go prepared with all the appropriate winter wear and better still, a hot flask, because the wait could take hours.

The truth is we all hope to be as lucky as this guy.

Tip #5: Expect to be Disappointed

I know this sounds counter-intuitive, but I truly believe that expectations can make, or break, an experience. Here is the truth: The lights look better on your camera than in real life. The photos you’ve seen online? They’ve all been enhanced, at least to some degree. If you’re so lucky to have found the Aurora on a night with a geomagnetic storm (like the video above) then that’s awesome but it really doesn’t happen all that often. Please let that sink in, because you shouldn’t be going there with the expectation of seeing bright lights bursting across the sky with the same intensity as those in the photos. That being said, this doesn’t mean that seeing the Aurora in real life is any less amazing because it is really quite a magical experience to watch them twist and twirl so gracefully and randomly. Again, it’s that elusiveness, the not knowing what to expect, that really makes for an unforgettable experience.

Tip #6: Have Fun Anyway!

What if you don’t get to see the lights at all? We’ve all had that one friend who spent a week there and didn’t see anything, and I suspect it happens more often that we’d like to know. Yet even if you are not able to see the Aurora, chances are you would still be able to see a breathtaking expanse of stars, constellations and even the Milky Way. Enjoy this spectacular view and indulge in it! Our serendipitous encounter with a Nat Geo photographer in a hot tub led to an impromptu photography lesson on capturing the Aurora which really helped us in our later attempts. Go with an open mind, and enjoy the anticipation.

Despite having seen the Northern Lights in Iceland, we are still very excited about catching the Aurora Australis in Tasmania this December! I don’t think one could ever tire of witnessing this surreal phenomenon and it’s definitely an experience you are unlikely to forget for a lifetime. All the best to those who are chasing the Aurora! 

If you enjoyed this article and happen to be planning a trip to Iceland, you might enjoy our posts on Iceland  (:

Tips and Tricks from Iceland’s Most Famous Local: Oli

Iceland: Where Mother Nature Knows Best

This article first appeared on ETSY Explores.