Tromso! Aurorae!

[Ags]

We're off to Tromso next year for Aurorae, fishing, walking, photography and log fires! We're thinking of September - the skies should be dark enough by then (I'll check in Stellarium) and the temperatures are in the 10C range.

Has anyone been up that way?

[Mansnake]

lucky! ive always wanted to go there and see it. beware though norway is very expensive!

[LukeSkywatcher]

lucky! ive always wanted to go there and see it. beware though norway is very expensive!

I've heard that also. A pint of beer can set you back about 7 quid.

[Vega26]

Stayed in Alta nor far from there a couple of years ago. As pointed out, not cheap, but beautiful place, and we were treated to amazing Northern light shows.

[Mansnake]

I've heard that also. A pint of beer can set you back about 7 quid.

yea someone i know went there and payed something like 25 euros for a pizza! hopefully the northen lights will make up for it though

[Photosbykev]

check the phase of the moon before booking, it would be shame to get beautiful dark skies washed out by a full moon

[LukeSkywatcher]

yea someone i know went there and payed something like 25 euros for a pizza! hopefully the northen lights will make up for it though

I hope the pizza was gold plated for that price.

I'm hoping to take an aurora flight from Gatwick on 10th March 2013. It will be a birthday gift to myself. I think (not too sure) that Pete Lawrence is the onboard expert for these flights. I was at a star party recently and he gave a great lecture on the aurora and he mentioned the flights and the company that he does the flights for/with.

[Ags]

check the phase of the moon before booking, it would be shame to get beautiful dark skies washed out by a full moon

Thanks for the reminder!

[Ags]

Is Sweden cheaper than Norway? Do they get Northern Lights too?

I was reading the Northern Light brightness scale in SaN magazine - the brightest level is IV, bright enough to read by and to cast shadows. Wow!

[sologuitarist61]

Have been watching where the aurora is likely to be just lately and where you are aiming to go has been the favoured area for the last few nights. See this link http://helios.swpc.n...ion/Europe.html

[Phil-lost!]

Have you thought about Iceland? I've just booked 5 days in november for just over £500, a lot cheaper than norway or sweden. Not sure how much beer costs though!

[JonH]

I've heard that also. A pint of beer can set you back about 7 quid.

I paid £7 for a pint in Bergen 8 years ago!

I've recently looked into having a week in Iceland for the aurora - flghts from London, hotel in Reykjavik and car hire, and was surprised how cheap it was.

[Ags]

Good thing we don't drink beer. We booked the flights to Oslo today, then we'll catch a train/bus to the north.

We'll be sure to pack a couple of bottles of Condensed Wine!

[carastro]

Iceland is expensive too, but I think Beer wasn't so expensive, but food is at least double the price here. The reason being is they don't have much top soil and can't grow much so everything has to be imported.

Fabulous Aurora though and interesting geology.

Carole

[Jove]

Hi,

We went to Tromso a few years back to see the Northern Lights. We did get to see them, though not a big display by all accounts but was a fantastic sight nonetheless. As others have said, it's very expensive, but I'd go back anyway. We went in March, so about the same amount of darkness as September - temps were around freezing the whole time though!

[microbe]

We are going to Tromso in early March 2013. The moon will be between last quarter and new, so the sky will be dark enough for aurora, provided that the clouds keep away.

March is supposed to be a good time of year for viewing at Tromso. Typical temps are +5 to -5C, but has been known to drop to -15C, so we'll be taking plenty of layers.

There is a Tromso web-cam at http://weather.cs.uit.no/wcam0_latest.html