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Aurora Watching

Aurora Watching

Min number of participants 1
Age 5+ yrs.
Safety support by adult Recommended
Min duration 1 h
Cost Low
Environment Outdoor

Head out on a clear winter night to witness the northern or southern lights dancing across the sky in vivid curtains of green, purple, and red.

The Essentials

  • Check an aurora forecast app or website for the current geomagnetic activity level before heading out, since auroras only appear when solar activity is strong enough, and forecasts help you avoid a wasted trip.
  • Travel away from city lights to an area with a clear, unobstructed view of the northern or southern sky, since light pollution can wash out all but the brightest auroras.
  • Give your eyes at least twenty to thirty minutes to adjust to the darkness, since faint auroras become much easier to notice once your night vision has fully kicked in.
  • Dress in warm layers and bring extra blankets or hot drinks, since you will likely be standing still outdoors for a long time in cold conditions, often for hours, waiting for activity to peak.
  • Use a camera with manual settings and a tripod if you want to photograph the display, since long exposures often reveal color and detail invisible to the naked eye.
  • Stay patient and be ready to wait, since aurora activity moves in waves, and a quiet sky can burst into a vivid, colorful display within minutes.
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