The Northern Lights

The Northern Lights

Iceland has plenty of natural attractions – glaciers, waterfalls, and black sand beaches – but one of the most popular sights in Iceland is not even on land, it's up in the sky. The aurora borealis, or the Northern Lights are wisps of colored lights that sometimes stretch across the arctic sky and if you get to see them, watching these sheets and ribbons of light glide slowly around the winter night sky is an ethereal experience.

The lights may look magical but the science behind them is even more fascinating. These soft lights we admire here on earth are caused by great solar storms, tearing across the sun's surface. Particles released from the sun during these massive storms travel through space and when they hit earth's atmosphere, they burn up.

The colour of the lights depends on where in the earth's atmosphere the particle's burn up and they can be purple, pink, or even red, although the most common shade of the Northern Lights is green.

The Northern Lights only appear around the magnetic poles of the earth so Iceland and Northern Scandinavia are the best places to see them. It's not the only places to see them though, the Northern lights have a southern counterpart known as the Southern lights or aurora australis.

Tips and Tricks to See the Northern Lights

The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon and they don't appear on a fixed schedule. Also, because the lights appear high in the sky, they can be covered by clouds. A Northern Lights sighting is never guaranteed but if you follow these tips and tricks, you can maximize your chances to see them.

Wait until dark

The Northern Lights are not very bright and certainly not bright enough to outshine the sun. You have to wait until it's dark to go out and hunt for the Northern Lights, but the good news is, during winter in Iceland, you don't have to wait that long.

(… and that means no Norther Lights in the summer)

Icelandic winters are long and dark but during the summer, the sun hardly sets. This means that during the summer, it never really gets dark enough for the Northern Lights to appear.

Iceland. Photo by Olga

Get out of town

As we've mentioned, the Northern Lights aren't bright at all, so if you want to see them at their best, getting out of the city lights is key. On a good night, you can still see the lights within the city limits but the light pollution from the city will always dull their brightness a little.

Make sure the sky is clear

The lights appear high in the sky, which means that clouds can cover the view of the lights from the ground. It's best to look for them on a clear, or at least partially clear night, just like the stars.

Check the aurora forecast

If you want to avoid disappointment, check out the aurora forecast published by the Iceland meteorological institution. They predict the cloud cover and the level of aurora activity. They're not infallible but the following the forecast is a good rule of thumb.

Consider taking a tour

If you don't have a car, taking a tour can be a convenient way to get out of the city lights. Most tour companies offer Northern lights tours by bus, boat or jeep and if you don't see any lights you can take the tour again the next night for free.

Bring a camera

The Northern Lights are unforgettable but you still might want to take some photos as souvenirs of your trip to Iceland. Don't forget to bring your camera but be aware that taking great photos of the Northern Lights can be tricky. Ask your guide for help.

Wear warm clothes and be patient

The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon so they're not dependable. Sometimes they come out early in the evening, clear and bright, but sometimes they don't appear until the middle of the night or just appear as a blurry fog of lights. Bring a jacket and some mittens and have patience.

How to Photograph the Northern Lights

The Northern Lights are faint and far away, so even if you see them clearly with your own eyes, they probably won't show up on a photo unless you follow these tips and tricks. A good camera is the best tool to get the photo you want but if you've got a smartphone, it'll do. Most newer smartphones have an advanced option, allowing you to adjust the settings for your aurora photo shoot.

Bring a tripod

A tripod or something to keep your camera level is essential to get a clear photo of the Northern Lights. You need a long exposure time to capture as much of the lights as you can and if your camera moves even a little, your photo will be blurry.

Set your aperture low...

The aperture dictates how much of your lens is covered. You want it as open as possible to capture as much of the lights as you can.

… Your ISO high

The ISO dictates how sensitive the camera is to the light. Usually if you set it too high, the photo will be grainy but in the darkness of night, it's essential. Start at 800 and adjust it until you find the setting you like.

… and set a long shutter speed

This controls how long the lens is exposed, taking in light. You need some time to capture the elusive Northern Lights, so try 10 sec to begin with and then adjust it to your liking.

Try out these setting to begin with.