Northern Lights

What causes the Northern Lights?

Centuries before science kicked in, the Northern Lights were linked to supernatural powers. The famous Scandinavian Vikings thought of them as “vast flames of fire that are blown up among the rays” while locals believed they were reflections of the armor of the Valkyries.

Nowadays, science shows that the Northern Lights are actually a result of collisions between gaseous particles in the atmosphere of the earth and charged particles that are released from the sun’s atmosphere. This collision also forms the variations in color, mostly due to the type of gas particles that are colliding.

When it comes to colors, the most common one in the Aurora Borealis is the pale yellowish-green, produced by oxygen molecules that are located about 60 miles away from the earth’s atmosphere.

The best time to see the Northern Lights in Scandinavia

Bright and dancing, the Northern Lights are visible from many locations in Scandinavia and at many times. Even though their appearance is usually difficult to predict (and commonly known hours before their sighting), everything depends on solar activity and the number of sunspots that might occur on the sun.

However, as a rough guide, the best time of the year to see the Aurora Borealis is in winter. From January to March, they are most visible mostly because of the fresh cold air, the darker skies and the minimized solar activity.

A worldwide attraction

The appearance of the Northern Lights has transformed from a natural phenomenon to a worldwide attraction over the past few years. Northern Scandinavia, among Iceland and Alaska, is seen as the most intense Northern Lights area.

There are many Scandinavian locations which can bring you closer to the amazing auroral displays, including the Norwegian destinations; Alta, Bodø, Kirkenes, Harstad-Narvik, Tromsø, Longyearbyen or Swedish destinations Luleå and Kiruna.

The fact that it is so easy to visit Scandinavia with all the routes from all over the world makes Scandinavian Airlines proud to offer you a magical Aurora Borealis experience – and show you what magic looks through the curtain of the Northern Lights.