Should we be lunatics?
October 4, 2010 12:16 PM Subscribe
Might the Northern Lights be visible in Norway during the full moon?
This February, I and several friends are off to Tromso (northern Norway) for a week. We have several fun activities planned but, really, our main motivation for going is to see the Northern Lights.
After buying our flight tickets, it's been pointed out to us that the week we've chosen has full moon smack in the middle of it. Oops.
Obviously the full moon will make the sky brighter, but will it be enough to hide or significantly lessen the visual impact of the aurora? Googling gives me answers ranging from "the lights will be invisible under a full moon" to "there's nothing more awesome than seeing the full moon surrounded by the aurora".
Changing our flights is possible, but expensive enough that we're very reluctant to do it unless it's really necessary.
So, does anyone have experience seeing the aurora from Tromso (or a similar part of the world) against a full moon? What was it like?
Yes, we know that cloud, fog, or daleks imploding the sun could all spoil our view. However, while we're happy to take our chances against the elements, we'd rather not also have to battle against stupid planning.
This February, I and several friends are off to Tromso (northern Norway) for a week. We have several fun activities planned but, really, our main motivation for going is to see the Northern Lights.
After buying our flight tickets, it's been pointed out to us that the week we've chosen has full moon smack in the middle of it. Oops.
Obviously the full moon will make the sky brighter, but will it be enough to hide or significantly lessen the visual impact of the aurora? Googling gives me answers ranging from "the lights will be invisible under a full moon" to "there's nothing more awesome than seeing the full moon surrounded by the aurora".
Changing our flights is possible, but expensive enough that we're very reluctant to do it unless it's really necessary.
So, does anyone have experience seeing the aurora from Tromso (or a similar part of the world) against a full moon? What was it like?
Yes, we know that cloud, fog, or daleks imploding the sun could all spoil our view. However, while we're happy to take our chances against the elements, we'd rather not also have to battle against stupid planning.
Best answer: This site might help with times of when the moon rises and sets during the time you're there.
posted by Grither at 1:04 PM on October 4, 2010
posted by Grither at 1:04 PM on October 4, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks, both. Although we'll have to contend with the moon and its effect on visibility, we should have some time during the week when the sun and moon are both below the horizon. We'll just have to cross our fingers extra hard, I guess...
posted by metaBugs at 9:42 AM on December 10, 2010
posted by metaBugs at 9:42 AM on December 10, 2010
Response by poster: Follow-up:
As it turned out, the full moon was bright enough to read by, and to throw sharp shadows on the snow. The aurora was visible when the moon was in the sky, although usually not very well-defined and quite washed out: cameras set to long exposures saw the aurora as quite well-defined green arcs or patches, but to the naked eye they looked like almost pure white fogs. When the moon dipped below the horizon or was hidden by cloud, the colour and shapes were much more visible.
In an amazing stroke of luck, the wash from the biggest solar flare in years hit the earth on a night when the moon was below the horizon for us, so we got a truly spectacular, multicoloured show at the end of the week. I'm still grinning about it now as I type :D.
So to anyone who finds this later: Check the lunar calendar before you book. Avoid the full moon and, ideally, get some nights when the moon will be below the horizon. Consider making a small sacrifice to the sun deity of your choice, to encourage flare activity. If the aurora is active you'll still see it with the moon up, but it's much more impressive and easily visible when the moon is gone or obscured.
posted by metaBugs at 3:52 AM on February 24, 2011 [3 favorites]
As it turned out, the full moon was bright enough to read by, and to throw sharp shadows on the snow. The aurora was visible when the moon was in the sky, although usually not very well-defined and quite washed out: cameras set to long exposures saw the aurora as quite well-defined green arcs or patches, but to the naked eye they looked like almost pure white fogs. When the moon dipped below the horizon or was hidden by cloud, the colour and shapes were much more visible.
In an amazing stroke of luck, the wash from the biggest solar flare in years hit the earth on a night when the moon was below the horizon for us, so we got a truly spectacular, multicoloured show at the end of the week. I'm still grinning about it now as I type :D.
So to anyone who finds this later: Check the lunar calendar before you book. Avoid the full moon and, ideally, get some nights when the moon will be below the horizon. Consider making a small sacrifice to the sun deity of your choice, to encourage flare activity. If the aurora is active you'll still see it with the moon up, but it's much more impressive and easily visible when the moon is gone or obscured.
posted by metaBugs at 3:52 AM on February 24, 2011 [3 favorites]
« Older seriously, this should just work, right? | Install Linux or windows without a cd drive or usb... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
- a week is a fairly long time for the lunar cycle. There will be some time most of those nights when the moon is not up and you have a chance of seeing them. This period will be before dawn prior to the full moon, and after sunset after the full moon. If there is auroral activity during that period, you should be able to see something.
- A really big solar wind "storm" could produce auroras that would be visible even though the moon is up. You won't know whether that's happening until the week you're there - it takes a solar eruption about a day and a half to reach the earth, and we're no good at predicting them yet, so you don't know except when an eruption is spotted whether there's one coming. Spaceweather is a good resource for knowing the state of auroral activity, when the time arrives.
If it were me, I would look into cross-country skiing on the full moon nights. That way, you're guaranteed an experience of transcendant beauty for at least part of the trip, even if the northern lights aren't playing along.posted by richyoung at 12:53 PM on October 4, 2010