Northern Lights From The Ship?

[Aloha 1]

Has anyone seen the Northern Lights from an O ship while at sea? Wondering if it's possible when going from Norway to Iceland or from Akureyri to Reykjavik, Iceland.

[LHT28]

What time of year  are you talking about?

 

we have done Norway in June, July & August  not the time of year for the Northern lights

[pinotlover]

Viking runs a couple cruises every winter to the fjords in Northern Norway, with near 24 hours of darkness, that highlights the Northern Lights! It’s also about 20 below out on deck to watch them! The Gulf Stream keeps the water from freezing.

 

We we’re on the O cruise around Nordcapp and to Archangel in July. 24 hours of daylight, so even thought the lights are there , you can’t see them!

[sammiedawg]

We’ve done the northern areas mentioned in summer, including  the summer solstice trip to Nordkap and the Northern lights are not going to be seen- too much daylight. 

We did an Iceland Air Northern lights trip with extended family in February when 80 percent of visitors see the lights. Sadly, we did not see them in five days, four nights of light seeking.  Tour companies depart hotels at 7pm to try to find the lights, it is freezing cold and miserable when you are out past midnight.  

The saving grace was having fun with family. 

I cannot imagine the level of cold on a winter Viking ocean trip to see the lights from the water.

 

Light seekers study navigational and lunar charts to plan September trips to Fairbanks Alaska.  All the charts pointed to September 2014? or 2015 as a bonanza year.  We couldn’t fit Fairbanks into our schedule but we regret we did not try harder. 

 

Check Alaska options, study the charts. 

 

[Aloha 1]

21 hours ago, LHT28 said:

What time of year  are you talking about?

 

we have done Norway in June, July & August  not the time of year for the Northern lights

 

Sorry, Mid September on Riviera this year.

[LHT28]

17 minutes ago, Aloha 1 said:

 

Sorry, Mid September on Riviera this year.

It might be possible in Sept  but not sure from the ship as the outside lighting might be too much still to see  the Northern lights

 

Good luck 

it would be something to see them in person

[TERRIER1]

I have friends that went to Alaska in early September 2018 on a small excursion ship and were asked if they wanted to be woken if the lights were visible. Fortunately for them they got to see them. I also follow Icelandic blogs for an upcoming land trip and the lights were visible there in late August. You need some darkness and clear skies and there is almost 24 hours of light in June/July so it would depend when you go. Also, larger ships can't/won't shut out their light so this lends to a poorer viewing as well.

[PaulMCO]

Northern lights frequency and intensity are pegged to the Solar activity (ie. sunspots).   Right now we are approaching a minimum (so less likely to see), as opposed to 2013/2014 at the solar peak.

[LHT28]

45 minutes ago, PaulMCO said:

Northern lights frequency and intensity are pegged to the Solar activity (ie. sunspots).   Right now we are approaching a minimum (so less likely to see), as opposed to 2013/2014 at the solar peak.

some people  watch the sun spot cycles  more than others 😉

[PaulMCO]

Exactly Lynne...

No aurora tonight.....

 

[Aloha 1]

5 hours ago, PaulMCO said:

Exactly Lynne...

No aurora tonight.....

 

 

Paul; What is the website you go to for that data?

[PaulMCO]

It is an Amateur (Ham) Radio site -- https://www.qrz.com/

On the first page first row you will see the Solar activity page.

 

[Aloha 1]

On 2/5/2019 at 5:57 PM, PaulMCO said:

It is an Amateur (Ham) Radio site -- https://www.qrz.com/

On the first page first row you will see the Solar activity page.

 

 

Thanks!