Looking at doing a trip to view the northern lights.

Lester · #1 29-07-2012, 08:15 PM

Hi all, got bitten by the bug and now looking at a trip to northern Finland in February 2013 for 2 weeks. Doing a 2 night guided tour first and then my own thing with hire car, out of Inari Finland.

Link to Aurora Hunters= http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/a...unters.limited

Have not got the quote on trip cost yet, will let you know its progress.

Anyone here with knowledge of the area around Inari, would be appreciated.

The Sun only rises to max of 5 degrees in February and sets near 1:30 p.m., so could be interesting.

RickS (Rick) · #2 29-07-2012, 08:37 PM

G'day Lester,

We did a trip last Jan/Feb starting in Alta, Norway and had a fantastic time. Can't help with any knowledge of that area of Finland, I'm afraid, but I'd be happy to answer any more general questions.

The days are short but there is a long twilight period. It still takes quite a long time to become properly dark.

It's very interesting watching the movement of objects in the sky at those latitudes. They don't so much rise and set as skim around the horizon.

Cheers,
Rick.

naskies (Dave) · #3 29-07-2012, 08:59 PM

Wow, sounds like a fantastic trip

Here's a great example (albeit taken in summer) of the "skimming around the horizon" effect that Rick mentioned:

http://isilmetriel.deviantart.com/ar...t-Sun-23683152

thunderchildobs · #4 29-07-2012, 09:12 PM

Found this

http://www.fredwatson.com.au/Tours/F...en-and-Iceland

Brendan

RickS (Rick) · #5 29-07-2012, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thunderchildobs

Found this

http://www.fredwatson.com.au/Tours/F...en-and-Iceland

Brendan

The Jan/Feb tour I did this year was one of Fred's. Definitely a great way to do it if you're interested in things astronomical.

Cheers,
Rick.

Lester · #6 29-07-2012, 09:22 PM

Thanks for your replies, Rick, Dave and Brendan. Yes I have heard of the midnight Sun, that applies for May/June, would be an experience also. I did look at Iceland, but chose northern Finland as it is further north and where many top images have been taken. Also just found out that things are cheaper in Finland than Norway, which will help me.

Lester · #7 29-07-2012, 09:25 PM

Those volcanoes of Iceland would add to the trip also.

Phil Hart · #8 29-07-2012, 10:46 PM

I think weather in Iceland is pretty ropey.. well inland in Scandinavia a better chance i would say. two weeks a good minimum starting point for such a long trip to get there.. can easily get a week of cloudy weather in any of these places.

Phil

Adelastro1 (Wayne England) · #9 29-07-2012, 11:41 PM

Those trips look great, especially with the company of Fred Watson - you'd certainly be entertained! Been thinking of getting somewhere myself, whether Scandinavia or Alaska/Canada.
Let us know how things go with it Lester.

Lester · #10 30-07-2012, 04:31 PM

Thanks Phil and Wayne for your comments. As I have not had any experience with motor vehicles in extreme sub-zero temperatures, what does one do when parked on the side of the road taking pictures and it can be -30 C? Do you have to keep the vehicle idling to prevent the fluid in the radiator and engine from freezing? I presume they would have heaters of some kind where the vehicles are parked over night at the resorts?

Thanks.

seeker372011 (Narayan) · #11 30-07-2012, 09:41 PM

One option you may wish to consider is Tromso in Norway.

Fly to London, then you can find cheapish flights to Norway on one of the budget carriers.

Think it's possibly one of the best places in the world for aurora.Of course , not a heck of a lot to do after or before..a sleigh ride or two ?

Lester · #12 30-07-2012, 10:43 PM

Hi Narayan, actually I first looked at Tromso, Norway it is the most northerly city on the planet. The further inland, there is more chance of clear skies. The Fiords would be majestic to view, but with the Sun only rising a maximum of 5 degrees I don't think the lighting will be real good as much of them would remain in shadow. Just heard from Andy Keen that runs the tours out of Inari Finland and last February he saw the aurora on 21 nights. It is his most busy month. I need to book soon, as he only takes 6 people at a time. All the best.

Liz · #13 31-07-2012, 08:52 AM

All sounds fabulous Lester, veery jealous!!

Lester · #14 31-07-2012, 11:37 AM

Hi Liz, a lot of homework/internet surfing going on here. Checking the road rules and driving in extreme winter temperatures.

slt (Gunther) · #15 01-08-2012, 11:47 PM

I went to Iceland in March this year, for the very same reason. I picked Iceland (over Nothern Skandinavia) because of all the other attractions already mentioned. Very much recommended!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gunther...7629614069031/

Adelastro1 (Wayne England) · #16 02-08-2012, 12:18 AM

Wow Gunther those photos are amazing, and not just the aurora shots. Makes me want to go there even more now!

slt (Gunther) · #17 02-08-2012, 06:19 AM

Thanks Wayne! Yes, that place is a landscape photographer's dream come through. I'm in love with Iceland! Been there 3 times now, and a 4th trip is in planning. (sorry to OP for side-track)

Lester · #18 02-08-2012, 07:23 AM

Wow, Gunther that has put a spanner in the works, amazing views. How was the weather for you regarding cloud?

slt (Gunther) · #19 02-08-2012, 04:16 PM

Thanks Lester!

Like you, I planned what I believed were a conservative 2 weeks, hoping to see at least one good display. The first few days were very disheartening ... according to aurora forecasts there were some great displays to be seen (5 and 6 on the 0-9 scale), but alas Iceland was under cloud cover. Long-term weather forecasts looked awful (and proved to be totally inaccurate). Short-term forecasts (ie. for 24 hours) by the Icelandic BOM proved to be very accurate however, and in the end flexibilty on our part (ie. rental car) and a lot of chasing clear skies were the key. Western Iceland (incl. Reykjavik) was under clouds throughout the 2 weeks, whereas the east and north were clear at times. Ended up seeing the aurora on 9 of the 15 nights, and had one truly fantastic display (entire sky active) plus 2 more pretty good ones. About 6 of the 9 would have totally satisfied my initial hopes!

Advantages of Iceland over northern Scandinavia (or Alaska) IMO are:
- not nearly as cold, funny as that sounds, but Iceland is warmed by the Gulfstream year round
- island climates are more variable, so while chances of "bad" weather are higher, it tends to clear quicker. Scandinavia is much more continental and stable, which means if you're lucky you might have 2 weeks of fantastic weather, but then again you might be socked in for 2 weeks
- more scenic (even in Winter), but that maybe subjective

- easier to get around (if you have your own car), with plenty of "cheap" off-season accomodation (on current exchange rates anyway), though I've never been to Finland, so maybe that's not so much of an issue

Lester · #20 02-08-2012, 05:20 PM

Hi Gunther, I appreciate your indepth description of your trip and aurora hunt. I have searched many areas on the net looking for the best opportunity to see the most aurora. I have found a small tour in northern Finland and it seems to be the only one that actually hunts out the clear skies and prepared to drive for many hours to view the aurora. I have contacted them and waiting a reply as to how difficult it will be for me to drive in the Finland winter, without any snow/ice experience. I believe if I drive slow in those freezing conditions all should be okay.

Thought I was on a winner a few days ago came across Lake Abisko in Sweden that is supposed to always have clear skies above it and a very reliable spot to see the aurora. I have viewed the live sky camera there a number of times and it has always been cloudy at night and limited blue sky during one day.

Link to live sky camera at Lake Abisko Sweden.
http://lightsoverlapland.com/index.php/webcam