On a recent trip to Norway, I had the opportunity to see the green glow, from Northern Lights, floating in the sky, but the Northern Lights weren't exactly what everyone talks about. The entire sky wasn't lit up with a variety of colors, but a few large, green streaks were crossing the sky. So, I wanted to clear up any misconceptions that you might have about the Northern Lights to level set your expectations if you travel to see this natural phenomenon.
The Northern Lights Look Better Through A Camera
When we see photos of the Northern Lights, they are like the Milky Way in the sense that a camera will capture them better than what you see with the naked eye. When a camera uses a long exposure, say 5 seconds to 30 seconds, to capture an image, the colors begin to pop and even some of the faintest objects will begin to appear. Now, this doesn't mean you can't see the Northern Lights with the naked eye, you can! Just be ready for the Northern Lights not to look like the photos.
The Northern Lights Come and Go Throughout The Night
One of the challenges of seeing the Northern Lights is that they come and go. While the most common hours to see the Northern Lights are between 11 pm and 3 am, one important characteristic of the Northern Lights is their ephemeral nature. What does that mean? If you are looking at the Northern Lights right now, in 10 minutes, they could be gone. On the flip side, if you don't see the Northern Lights right now, they might show up in the next 30 minutes, or not at all. This is what makes chasing the Northern Lights fun.
The Northern Lights Might Be There, But Weather Will Determine What You See
Usually, when you travel to see the Northern Lights, you are going to places that have harsh conditions. The weather can be bad. Rains, winds, and heavy cloud coverage all happen in the regions with the Northern Lights. So, make sure to keep an eye on the weather, because you'll need to be outside to see the Northern Lights. Pack a heavy jacket, and thick gloves, so you can be ready to hop out of bed if you hear the Northern Lights are showing.