Practical tips for observing the northern lights in Tromso

What is a polar aurora?

During my trip to Tromso I was lucky enough to be able to fulfill one of my greatest dreams: observe the northern lights , This spectacular natural phenomenon from Mother Nature. A unique experience that leaves an unforgettable memory…

Both fascinating and spectacular, the «polar auroras» are exceptional luminous phenomena that are worth seeing at least once in a lifetime.

The Earth's magnetic poles attract fine particles that come from solar eruptions, and it is through penetrating the upper layer of the atmosphere, composed of oxygen and nitrogen, that these particles glow, giving way to a celestial ballet of greenish color, a kind of light cloud veil that dances in the sky. .

Depending on the composition of the particles, the colors can range from green to red or yellow, passing through turquoise, purple or pink hues. Depending on the intensity of the solar activity, the northern lights can last from a few seconds to several tens of minutes.

Where and when can you observe the northern lights in Norway?

The northern lights can be observed in areas located around the Earth’s magnetic poles between 65° and 75° latitude. In fact, they are called northern lights in the regions of the Northern Hemisphere, but also austral lights in the regions of the Southern Hemisphere.

You can see the northern lights in Canada, Alaska, Greenland, Iceland, Finland, Sweden, New Zealand, and also in northern Norway, in the Tromso region, which is also considered one of the main destinations for observing this celestial spectacle.

You have to be in the right place at the right time!

To maximize the chances of seeing the northern lights, you need to travel to these regions of the world. between mid-September and mid-March. The phenomenon usually appears between 18:00 and 2:00 in the morning.And we can certainly talk about luck because observing this wonderful natural phenomenon is not done by order!

The year before I went to Iceland for a few days and didn’t have the opportunity to see any of them!
Click here to find out Forecasts of the Northern Lights

Watch the northern lights on an excursion or on your own?

We only stayed in Tromso for 3 days and we didn’t rent any vehicles to explore the city on our own, so we took a tour the first evening with Tromso Safari to observe the northern lights.

As with many activities in Tromo, the prices are still relatively high… You’ll pay around 120€ per person. We’re being picked up from the Radisson in Tromso and taken on a bus to a spot about fifty kilometers from the city for the special opportunity to enjoy the observation.

During the journey, the guide gives us a multitude of information and advice about the luminous phenomenon. On site there is a small campfire and a hut where you can warm up with a cup of tea or coffee if the wait is long.

We were lucky enough to observe the northern lights for 2 hours, but the context wasn’t that extraordinary because there were really a lot of people… If, like me, you are a small amateur photographer, the guides can help you set up your camera properly to capture these northern lights.

On the second night the experience was even more spectacular… We spent 24 hours in the region of Lyngen Alps at Francisco de Green Gold Of Norway, and we set off at night in a small group with our snowmobiles to a spot where there is no light pollution to observe the northern lights and also to enjoy this beautiful spectacle in the best conditions.

This aurora hunt was much more pleasant and unusual this time! That night we slept in a wooden tipi with a glass roof through which we enjoyed the starry sky. I will write more about this memorable trip with friends in the Lyngen Alps in another article.

It is advisable to plan several nighttime outings during your stay to maximize your chances of observing the northern lights.

Some tips: stay away from cities to avoid light pollution, be patient, have a thermos of hot coffee, bring some firewood for a small campfire, and enjoy these magical moments!

What are the tips for photographing the Northern Lights in Norway?

If this is your first time seeing the northern lights, first think about enjoying the spectacle, without rushing to your camera as soon as the first few seconds of its appearance appear!
Enjoy the present moment, it’s not every day you’re in the polar region 😉

To photograph the northern lights, you need a DSLR or a hybrid camera that allows manual adjustments, and of course a tripod, mandatory, to prevent any movement so that the photo is as clear as possible.

Here are some tips:

• Opt for RAW quality photos
• Turning off autofocus on the lens: AF –> MF
• Set the objective to infinity ∞
• Vary the ISO between 800, 1600, or more
• Adjust the aperture between 2.8 and 3.5
• Adjust the dwell time between 20 and 30 seconds
• Enable the delay timer so you don’t have to touch the camera
• To avoid thermal shocks when returning with your camera to a heated cabin, for example, fog may form on the lens.