Knowing how to hunt Northern Lights in Iceland is something we've been doing for a living for over three decades and we're happy to share our knowledge with you. If you're a fellow adventurer at heart we'd like you to head out with some local insider knowledge, and if you decided that your time is too precious to simply "wing" it, we're happy to welcome you on one of our tours.
Either way, here are all our best resources to help you hunt the aurora borealis in Iceland. And for your convenience we've included a quick 6-Step Aurora Hunt Guide with ready to grab resources.
If you are looking for the best time and place to see the aurora in Iceland, then read our in-depth guide on exactly that.
6-Step Guide to Hunt Northern Lights
Now that you have all these tools, how do you use them together effectively? Experienced aurora hunters in Iceland (including tour guides and hardcore locals) often follow a strategy that involves balancing several factors: aurora strength forecasts, real-time solar data, cloud cover, and timing. Here are some insider tips on combining these elements for the best chance of success.
First thing first, start by grabbing your essential resources and tools for your hunt for the northern lights in Iceland.
Step 1: Check the Aurora Strength Forecast First
Start with the predicted aurora activity level for the night. Look at the Icelandic Met Office aurora forecast scale (0-9) or the Kp index forecast from NOAA/Aurora Service.
If it’s very low (Kp 0–1) and no other signs, you temper your expectations – though don’t rule out a faint aurora if the sky is clear and dark (I’ve seen auroras on “quiet” forecasts before!). If it’s moderate (Kp 2–3), which is quite common in Iceland, you have a decent chance – you should plan to be out if skies permit. If it’s high (Kp 4–6 predicted), that signals a possible geomagnetic storm – definitely go aurora hunting because the sky could light up with a big display. Rarely, forecasts might call for Kp 7+ (a major storm) – in which case, even the entire sky might be dancing and auroras could be seen far south in Europe.
Use the forecast as a general guide for how intense the aurora might be, and how far south it might be visible. In Iceland, even Kp 2 can produce overhead auroras because we’re under the auroral oval. So don’t be discouraged by a “low” number if other factors line up.
Step 2: Factor in the Clouds (Weather)
A strong aurora forecast means nothing if you’re stuck under thick cloud cover. Always cross-reference the cloud cover map for the same time period as the aurora forecast. The IMO aurora page (vedur.is) make this easy by pairing them.
Look for areas with white (clear) or at least patchy sky. Sometimes it might be cloudy in Reykjavík but clearer on the Reykjanes peninsula or the south coast, for example. Be ready to be mobile – I often drive an hour to get out from under clouds. Pay attention to low vs high clouds on the IMO cloud cover map even if high clouds are thin, they might not ruin the show completely (aurora can peek through thin high clouds), but low thick clouds will block everything.
Step 3: Time it right (Sunset, Moon, and Patience)
Plan to be out during the darkest hours of night. In Iceland’s winter, darkness is plentiful, but generally the aurora tends to be most active in the few hours around magnetic midnight (~10 pm to 1 am local time), though it can occur anytime it’s dark. Check what time full darkness starts (the IMO aurora page even lists sunset and moonrise times for Reykjavík).
If there’s a bright moon, know that it will dim the stars and aurora a bit when it’s up. A half or quarter moon is fine (it can actually light up the landscape nicely for photos), but a full moon might wash out weaker auroras. You can’t change the moon, but at least be mentally prepared that a pale aurora might be hard to see under a glowing moonlit sky.
Patience and persistence are key tools too! Auroras often come in waves or pulses (we call them substorms). The sky might be quiet at 10 pm, then suddenly explode with activity at 11 pm. If conditions are promising (clear and some solar activity), try to stay out as long as you can, or check repeatedly.
Step 4: Monitor Real-Time Solar Wind Data (Bz and Speed)
Here’s where it gets a bit technical but very rewarding if you learn it, and this is an optional step. Two key numbers to watch in real-time, via sites and apps like SpaceWeatherLive, are the Bz component of the interplanetary magnetic field and the solar wind speed. In simple terms, Bz is a magnetic orientation – when Bz is negative (meaning the solar wind’s magnetic field is pointing south), the solar particles can more easily interact with Earth’s magnetic field to spark auroras. A strongly negative Bz (measured in nanoteslas, nT) is like opening the door for auroras. Solar wind speed (measured in km/s) tells you how fast the charged particles are arriving – faster wind can deliver more energy and sustain auroras longer. So, ideal scenario: you see the Bz value is -5 nT, -10 nT, or even lower (more negative), and the solar wind speed is above ~400 km/s and rising.
- For reference, 300-400 km/s is average; 500-600 km/s is nicely high; if it’s 700+ km/s, that’s really fast and often means a strong solar wind stream is hitting Earth.
These conditions, especially if sustained for a couple of hours, often lead to a great aurora display. Conversely, if Bz is positive (e.g. +5 nT) consistently, you might not get much even if the forecast Kp was high. The Bz can and does flip-flop frequently, so that’s why we watch it in real time. Many nights we’ve sat outside on one of our tours refreshing our apps, cheering on that little Bz needle to dip negative.
Step 5: Correlate Multiple Sources
Don’t rely on just one website or one metric. For example, suppose the Kp forecast is only 2 (meh), but you notice on SpaceWeatherLive that Bz just went sharply negative and the solar wind speed is rising – that’s a hint something could happen despite the modest Kp. Or maybe the IMO site shows a 3-day forecast of increasing activity in two days – you might plan your road trip around that night.
Meanwhile, check the cloud forecast for that night on Vedur.is – if it also looks clear, you’ve hit the jackpot, plan an aurora picnic! Conversely, if everyone is hyping a big geomagnetic storm (Kp 6-7) but the weather maps show Iceland under a blanket of rain clouds, consider adjusting your location or even timing (sometimes waiting a few hours for clouds to pass can make the difference, or driving to a different region).
Essentially, use all the data like pieces of a puzzle: Aurora strength + Clear skies + Dark location + Good solar wind conditions = high chance to see Northern Lights.
Step 6: Don’t Ignore Local Alerts/Observations
Lastly, keep your ear to the ground. If you’re staying in a hotel, sign up for their aurora wake-up calls (many Icelandic hotels offer to knock on your door if lights appear). Check social media or local community apps – sometimes people will post “Northern Lights now visible in Akureyri!” etc. There are also Facebook groups where locals share sightings in real time. The Northern Lights Alerts App (more on that later) is basically this concept in app form. If multiple people in different parts of Iceland start reporting auroras, that’s a very good sign.
How to Find Northern Lights in Iceland
As the 6-step quick guide suggests finding the northern lights in Iceland is a bit of a treasure hunt. Fortunately, there are several key tools that will greatly improve your odds of being in the right place at the right time, all of which we cover in great detail in this guide.
- Aurora Forecast Websites to predict the aurora’s strength and likelihood
- Weather/Cloud Cover Maps to see which parts of Iceland will have clear skies
- All-Sky Webcams to see if the aurora is already active somewhere before you head out
- Aurora Mobile Apps to keep up with aurora changes while on the road
- GPS & Maps for navigating Iceland at night
- Road and weather alerts to stay safe while driving in the dark winters
More importantly you'll need to understand the forecasts and tools so let's start with the basics, so you know how to read the northern lights forecasts.
Understanding Aurora Forecasts
When you’re scanning Iceland’s northern lights forecast, make sure to focus on two key factors that determine your chances of seeing the show:
- Cloud cover – Clear skies are a must. No matter how strong the aurora is, you won’t see a thing if thick clouds are in the way. The fewer the clouds, the better your odds.
- Kp index – This scale from 0 to 9 measures geomagnetic activity and indicates how strong the aurora might be. A higher Kp number means brighter, more widespread northern lights.
On the Icelandic Met Office aurora forecast map, green areas show cloud cover and white areas indicate clear skies (exactly what you want!). The current Kp index is usually displayed in a box on the right. Keep in mind the aurora forecast only looks up to three days ahead – anything beyond that is too unpredictable to rely on.
The Kp Index Explained: How Strong Will the Aurora Be?
Here’s a quick rundown of what each Kp level means for aurora visibility:
- Kp 0 – Silent: No geomagnetic activity. No auroras visible.
- Kp 1 – Very quiet: Auroras are highly unlikely (except maybe right near the poles).
- Kp 2 – Quiet: Faint auroras possible under clear, dark skies.
- Kp 3 – Unsettled: Steady auroras are likely, though they may appear weak near city lights.
- Kp 4 – Active: Bright auroras likely, often visible even with some light pollution.
- Kp 5 – Minor storm: Strong auroras expected, sometimes showing more than one color in the sky.
- Kp 6 – Moderate storm: Vivid, multi-colored auroras dancing across much of the sky.
- Kp 7 – Strong storm: Intense auroras, fast-moving and richly multicolored.
- Kp 8 – Severe storm: An extremely rare event – the entire sky can glow with brilliant, shifting colors.
- Kp 9 – Intense storm: A historic-level storm. Auroras so bright they can illuminate the whole landscape.
Remember, the Kp index is only a forecast, much like a weather report. Kp values above 5 are truly rare treats, and even a high Kp doesn’t guarantee an aurora show — just as a low Kp doesn’t completely rule one out. If the night is dark and clear, it’s always worth stepping outside for a look. In fact, some of the most amazing displays happen when they’re least expected!
- Kp 2 and 3 are the most common values when the northern lights appear.
Beyond the Kp Index: Advanced Aurora Forecast Tools
To go beyond just cloud cover and Kp, here are a few advanced tools that can further improve your aurora-spotting odds:
- Bz component: The solar wind carries a portion of the Sun’s magnetic field toward Earth. The Bz value tells us which direction that magnetic field is pointing. A negative Bz (southward) is great news, as it makes auroras more likely. A positive Bz (northward) is less promising for aurora activity.
- Solar wind speed: This measures how fast charged particles from the Sun are streaming toward Earth. Faster solar wind hits Earth’s magnetic field harder, often sparking more active auroras. Typical speeds are around 300–400 km/s. If it jumps above 500 km/s, the chances of brighter northern lights shoot up!
- OVATION model: A computer model that uses real-time solar wind data to predict aurora activity about 30–90 minutes in advance. It’s usually shown as a world map with a glowing oval around the poles. The brighter and larger the oval over your area (for example, over Iceland), the better your chances of seeing the lights.
You can monitor the Bz component and solar wind speed on NOAA’s Real-Time Solar Wind dashboard [1], and check the latest aurora oval via NOAA’s Aurora 30-Minute Forecast map [2]. Armed with these tools, and a bit of patience, you’ll be well prepared to chase those northern lights!
Northern Lights Forecasts in Iceland
Although we recommend using vedur.is there’s no shortage of aurora forecast websites, and these few stand out for Iceland. Each has its own strengths. These sites predict the aurora’s strength (often via the Kp index or similar scales) and sometimes show where the auroral oval is likely to be. They essentially monitor solar activity and geomagnetic conditions to give you a heads-up on potential Northern Lights activity. In Iceland, the go-to source is the Icelandic Meteorological Office’s aurora forecast webpage, which provides daily aurora activity levels (0-9 scale) and other data.
Here’s a friendly comparison of the top sites locals and avid aurora-hunters rely on.
Icelandic Meteorological Office – Aurora Forecast (Vedur.is): The official IMO website is among the most dependable for Iceland-specific aurora info. It gives a 6-day aurora forecast based on geomagnetic activity (Kp index), and crucially, it integrates the cloud cover forecast for Iceland. The site displays a map of Iceland with forecasted cloud cover (white for clear skies, green for cloudy) and an aurora activity level in the corner [3]. This helps you quickly identify where the best viewing conditions might be – e.g. if North Iceland is clear and the aurora level is, say, 3 or higher, that might be your target area. The IMO updates the aurora forecast daily (and in practice, the cloud map is updated throughout the day). It’s a must-bookmark site for anyone chasing lights here.
- Summary: Great for seeing cloud gaps vs aurora strength, all tailored to Iceland.
Aurora Service Europe: This popular site provides broader Europe-wide aurora forecasts. It monitors geomagnetic activity and real-time solar wind data from NASA/NOAA, then produces hourly, daily, and 3-day forecasts for the aurora. One cool feature: Aurora Service Europe shows a map of Europe indicating what Kp index you’d need for the aurora to reach different latitudes. For Iceland (sitting at ~65°N), the map shows that even a low Kp can bring auroras overhead. In short, this site gives a quick sense of the expected Kp (strength) in the coming hours and days, and it incorporates data like the NOAA Ovation model and live solar wind readings. It’s free and straightforward – ideal for seeing if a geomagnetic storm might be on the way a couple of days out.
Aurora Forecast Iceland (AuroraForecast.is): This is an excellent one-stop dashboard created for Iceland specifically. It basically aggregates all the important info on one page. When you visit, you’ll see the current Kp index prediction, the Icelandic Met Office cloud cover map, NASA’s real-time solar wind data (like the current solar wind speed and the interplanetary magnetic field Bz), the NOAA Ovation aurora oval map, and even local Icelandic data like the Leirvogur Magnetic Observatory charts. The inclusion of the magnetometer readings from Leirvogur (run by University of Iceland) is a unique perk – when those graphs show big fluctuations, it means Earth’s magnetic field is being disturbed over Iceland, which often correlates with aurora sightings. In plain terms: this site lets you “check everything” – if it shows a decent Kp forecast, clear skies, a negative Bz, and maybe some wiggles on the magnetometer, you should definitely head out! It’s free and very user-friendly, with tips on understanding the data. They even note that auroras can sometimes be seen in Iceland at Kp 1 or 0 if conditions are otherwise good – that’s real local insight.
NOAA Space Weather Ovation Forecast (30-Minute Aurora Map): This isn’t an “Iceland-only” site, but it’s such a useful tool that it’s worth mentioning. NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center provides a real-time Aurora Ovation model that updates every 30 minutes. It displays a global map with a colored oval representing where auroras are likely right now or very soon. Light green on the oval means low chance, while shades of yellow, orange, or red mean higher probability. If you see the oval (the “ring” of aurora activity) covering Iceland on the map, that indicates the Northern Lights might be visible in Iceland within ~30 minutes. Many of the other sites (Aurora Service, AuroraForecast.is, etc.) actually embed or link to this NOAA map, so you might not need to visit NOAA separately. But it’s the underlying data many forecasters use. One thing to remember: this gives a short-term forecast – kind of a nowcast. It’s extremely handy when you’re out at night checking if something might happen soon. For example, if NOAA’s map is glowing red over Iceland, get outside now!
An example of NOAA’s 30-minute aurora forecast map. The colored oval shows probability of seeing the aurora (red-orange indicating high chances). If this oval is covering Iceland and it’s night, there’s a strong chance the aurora is active overheadiceland-photo-tours.com. Always combine this with a cloud cover check – clear, dark skies are required to actually see it!
SpaceWeatherLive: Both a website and an app, SpaceWeatherLive is a favorite among aurora enthusiasts for real-time solar data. The site isn’t Iceland-specific, but it presents things like the current Kp index, the solar wind speed, the Bz component, and even solar flares or sunspot info in clean, interactive graphs. If you’re the type who wants to geek out on the details (or just have all the numbers at your fingertips), this is a fantastic resource. It also provides interpretations, e.g., indicating when conditions are favorable. The SpaceWeatherLive mobile app can send alerts too. You can use this to monitor what the sun is doing (since that’s the engine behind the aurora). For a casual traveler, you might not need all this data, but during a trip it can be fun and useful to watch, say, the Bz value or solar wind jump and then see auroras follow.
Soft Serve News – Aurora Forecast (and Alerts): SoftServeNews is a long-running service that provides real-time aurora predictions and even an alert system. The website offers a unique short-term aurora prediction, updating every 2 minutes, estimating the Kp for the next ~10 minutes. It also shows the NOAA ovation map and explains how to interpret it, plus a cool real-time chart of the Bz (interplanetary magnetic field) slicing coming toward Earth [4]. The site is free to use for tracking current conditions. They do offer a paid subscription ($4.95/month) if you want text or phone call alerts whenever aurora is happening near your location – however, if you’re just visiting Iceland for a short time, you might stick to the free tools and manually checking. Soft Serve News is a helpful site especially if you plan to be actively watching the numbers during an evening out. It’s also designed with a dark mode to preserve night vision, which is a nice touch if you’re using a phone outside at night.
Those are the heavy hitters in terms of aurora forecasts. All of them are free, so the “best” one really depends on your style: do you want simple guidance try vedur.is or detailed data try SpaceWeatherLive or Aurora Service, or an all-in-one dashboard test AuroraForecast.is.
Northern lights apps for Iceland
When you’re on the move (or trying to stay warm in the car!), mobile apps can be lifesavers. Most will combine aurora forecasts, real-time solar data, cloud cover info, and sometimes crowd-sourced alerts. Some will even send push notifications if aurora activity is high or if someone nearby spots the lights.
Here are a few recommended apps that many aurora hunters in Iceland use, along with some pros and cons of each listed below.
Hello Aurora – by local Icelandic developers. This free app is an aurora-focused weather app, created by two Icelanders specifically to help people track the Northern Lights. It pulls in a wide range of data – aurora forecasts, weather and cloud cover, magnetic field info, solar wind – and gives you an easy-to-read likelihood of seeing the aurora at your location. Think of it as an all-in-one dashboard on your phone, likely using sources like the ones mentioned above to predict auroras. It even allows you to see reports from other users so if someone nearby sees the lights, you can get alerted – a bit of community sharing.
Northern Lights Alerts App – crowd-sourced sightings. This is an Iceland-developed app that takes a different approach. Instead of forecasting, it focuses on live alerts from users. When someone in your vicinity sees the Northern Lights, they can send out an alert to everyone else using the app. You can do the same if you spot auroras.
My Aurora Forecast & Alerts – popular global aurora app. This app is widely used by aurora enthusiasts around the world and has a good track record. It provides both short-term and long-term aurora forecasts, and will send you free push notifications if auroral activity is expected to be high. The notifications are a big plus – you can set it to alert you when the Kp is predicted above a certain threshold or when your location might have visible aurora. The app’s predictions are largely based on NOAA data and the Kp index, which while generally reliable, can’t guarantee a show (so occasionally you might get a “high chance” alert and see nothing due to local conditions, or get no alert and yet there are faint auroras).
SpaceWeatherLive App – for the data geeks. Mentioned earlier, SpaceWeatherLive also has a smartphone app. It’s basically a condensed version of the website with all the real-time plots of Kp, Bz, solar wind, etc. I'd only recommend this app if you’re comfortable with space weather jargon as you have to interpret the data. You'll be able to monitor minute-by-minute changes in the solar wind and see the current Kp at a glance on your phone. However, the app doesn't tell you "yes or no" for auroras at your location.
Aurora Forecast (by TINAC) and Aurora Alerts Northern Lights – other honorable mentions: There are several similarly named apps on app stores. Many of them tap into NOAA or NASA data and offer features like predictions, maps, and alerts. For instance, one app might show you the oval map, give a 3-day forecast, etc. If you already use one and like it, by all means, continue! Just be wary of any that charge a high fee without offering something extra. Most features you need are available in free apps. Check reviews and interface – if it shows Iceland’s location and uses reliable data, it should be fine.
Tip: Whatever app you use, make sure to allow it to access your location (if it’s for alerts) and enable notifications, otherwise you won’t get the benefit of the alerts. Also, keep your phone’s time zone correct (in Iceland it’s GMT with no daylight savings) so the app’s timing aligns with local time. And one more thing from experience: don’t rely solely on an app’s alert. Sometimes simply looking up does the trick.
Northern Lights Webcams in Iceland
Let's elaborate on northern lights webcams and why they’re useful for aurora chasers. These are real-time cameras pointed at the sky (often with a fisheye lens to capture the whole dome of the heavens). By checking live webcams in different parts of Iceland, you can literally see if the aurora is already active somewhere before you head out.
- Lava Center Live Aurora Camera - South Iceland
- Landhotel Live Aurora Webcam - South Iceland
- Apavatn Lake Northern Lights Live Webcam - South Iceland
- Most live webcams in Iceland
But how can you use these? Here are some practical tips.
Detect Auroras Early with Live Webcams: Webcams allow you to virtually “be” in multiple places at once. Imagine you’re sitting in Reykjavík on a partly cloudy night. You check a live webcam feed from, say, the south coast (which is clearer), and you suddenly notice a faint green glow on the horizon in that feed. That’s your cue – aurora activity might have started just outside the city. You can then decide to quickly drive out of town or to a better viewpoint. Without the webcam, you might not have known until much later. As the LAVA Centre in South Iceland describes, their live aurora webcam provides a unique chance to observe the lights’ appearance in advance, so you can time your outing perfectly.
Verifying the Forecast: Sometimes the forecasts say there should be aurora, but you’re not seeing anything where you are. A quick check of a webcam in a known dark area can confirm if the aurora is actually happening. If the webcam also shows nothing, then maybe the aurora hasn’t materialized yet (or is very weak). If the webcam shows a bright display but you see nothing, uh-oh – that likely means you have local clouds blocking it. Time to move or at least know why you’re not seeing it.
Learning Aurora Appearances: Watching webcams can teach you what auroras look like under different conditions. You might see how a faint white/grayish streak on camera intensifies into green – helpful for your own eyes, since at first you might mistake a very faint aurora for a cloud. Some all-sky cams even have timelapse archives; for example, the Landhotel’s site lets you replay timelapses from earlier nights. Reviewing those can show you typical aurora patterns (and also get you excited for what you might see!).
- Insider note: Some webcams are more sensitive than the human eye (using high ISO), so they might show faint auroras that you’d barely see in person. Treat it as a hint – if a webcam shows activity, even if faint, it’s worth looking outside or heading out, because it could strengthen. Conversely, if a webcam shows bright auroras, you definitely should be seeing something in person if you’re under clear skies.
Convenience: Let’s say you want to see the lights but also don’t want to stand outside for hours in the cold. Webcams to the rescue! You can periodically check them from your phone or laptop while sipping cocoa inside in the warmth. Some folks leave a webcam feed open as a kind of screensaver in the background – if the screen starts glowing green, time to put boots on. This approach is basically what some nice hotels do: at Landhotel, for example, they display the live camera feed on a lobby screen and offer to wake up guests when auroras appear. You can mimic that by self-monitoring via webcams. It’s a luxurious way to aurora hunt – let the lights come to you. Just be careful not to fall asleep with the stream open.
How to See Aurora in Iceland
Seeing the Northern Lights isn’t about luck alone — it’s about being smart, prepared, and knowing what to look for. Here’s how to maximize your chances of catching the aurora while in Iceland.
Hunt Around the Equinox Seasons
While auroras can appear anytime it’s dark enough (late August through mid-April in Iceland), the weeks around the autumn and spring equinoxes (September and March) are statistically the most active. That’s when Earth’s tilt aligns in a way that allows more solar particles to interact with our magnetic field — in plain English: the odds of stronger aurora displays are higher. (Some of the most famous aurora storms have happened right around the equinox.)
Search for Cloudless Skies
Clouds are the biggest aurora killer. Even with a high Kp index, thick clouds will block everything. Use the Icelandic Met Office’s cloud cover map to look for clear or partly clear regions (White is clear skies and green indicates cloudy skies). Be ready to drive out of town — it’s very common to escape clouds in Reykjavík by driving just 15 minutes to find a clear patch.
Avoid the Moon
The moon, as pretty as it is, acts like a giant flashlight in the sky. A full moon will wash out faint auroras, leaving only the strongest visible. If you’re serious about photographing the lights, try to plan around a new moon (or at least when the moon rises late at night). That said, a half-moon can sometimes work in your favor by softly lighting up the landscape for photos.
Avoid Any Artificial Lights
Light pollution is the other big aurora spoiler. Reykjavík and other towns glow with streetlights that make faint auroras nearly invisible. The good news? Most of Iceland is naturally dark. Drive a little way outside the city, turn off your headlights, and let your eyes adjust for 10–15 minutes.
Insider Tip: Þingvellir National Park, Reykjanes peninsula, and Snæfellsnes peninsula all make excellent dark-sky hunting grounds.
Dress Like You’re Going Winter Camping
Aurora hunting involves a lot of waiting in the cold. Standing still at midnight in sub-zero wind is very different from walking around in daylight. Wear thermal layers, windproof outer shells, insulated boots, gloves, a hat, and bring a thermos of something hot. A foldable camping chair and blanket go a long way, too.
Stay Out Long Enough
Auroras are unpredictable. They can flare up in minutes and vanish just as quickly. The best displays often happen between 10 pm and 1 am, but I’ve seen them as early as 8 pm and as late as 3 am. The trick is to be patient. If conditions look promising (clear skies, negative Bz, some solar wind activity), it’s worth hanging around for a couple of hours.
Learn to Spot Faint Auroras
Not all auroras look neon green to the naked eye. At first, a weak aurora can appear as a grayish or whitish arc, like a faint cloud. Over time, your eyes adjust, and the colors pop out more. (Cameras with long exposures exaggerate the colors, so don’t be discouraged if your eyes see less than your lens.)
Other Insider Tips
- Bring a tripod and a camera with manual settings if you want good photos. A smartphone can capture auroras these days, but a DSLR or mirrorless camera will do them justice.
- Go rural if you can. Overnight stays in countryside hotels or guesthouses often come with aurora wake-up calls — staff will knock on your door when the lights appear.
- Start early. Sometimes the sky just won’t cooperate so schedule your aurora hunt early on your trip. That way you have another shot later in your trip if the lights don't show up.
Sources
NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center. (n.d.). Aurora - 30 minute forecast. Retrieved from https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/aurora-30-minute-forecas
NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center. (n.d.). Real-time solar wind. Retrieved from https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/real-time-solar-wind
Icelandic Meteorological Office. (n.d.). Aurora forecast. Retrieved from https://en.vedur.is/weather/forecasts/aurora/
Soft Serve News. (n.d.). Aurora forecast tools. Retrieved from https://cdn.softservenews.com/
Steps Aurora Guide. (n.d.). Solar wind parameters and aurora. Retrieved from https://www.stepsauroraguide.com/aurora-photography-blog/solar-wind-parameters-and-aurora