Time Frame For Going On A Northern Lights Cruise

When it comes to the time frame for going on a northern lights cruise, there are different factors that must be taken into affect. You should know where to be, what months are the best time to see the northern lights, the best moon phase, and even the best time of the day. Each one of these aspects as well as your location has something to do with your ability to get a glimpse of the northern lights.

As you discuss your cruise with your travel agent, there are a few factors you will want to include so you arrive to best place to see the lights at the best time, including:

Best Months to View the Northern Lights

In order to see the northern lights you must take a northern lights cruise from February to April and August to October. The reason these are the only months is that you can only see the illumination in the sky when the sky is dark. In the northern hemisphere, the summer months are never dark. Of course, there is more to it than that. There are other factors including the way the earth is tilted and the location of the magnetic circle at the time.

Best Moon Phase to see the Northern Lights

The best time when it comes to the moon phase is during the spring or autumn equinox. This exact date changes every year, so you will need to keep track of this in order to plan your cruise in a timely manner. On average the spring equinox is on March 20th with autumn occurring September 23rd. Of course, these dates are not the only dates that the northern lights are visible but this is the peak season for the event.

Best Time of Day

The best time to see the northern lights is between 10pm and 2am. The exact time may differ a bit according to the season, the location, and the month in which you are taking your cruise. During the winter months, the time of day for seeing the northern lights display is between 11.30pm – 3.30am with the peak at 1:30 am. During the spring months, the best time is between 12:30pm and 4:30am as well as for autumn months.

Other factors that can effect seeing the northern lights include sky pollution, if the sky is dark enough, and of course, just how close you are to the artic pole. The clearer and darker the sky, the better your chances are of viewing the beauty of the northern lights.

When you combine all the factors of seeing the northern lights, you can see that the best time to see the aurora borealis is on March 20th between 12:30pm and 4:30am and on September 23rd between 12:30pm and 4:30am. This does not mean you will not be able to see the lights if you visit at other times when the sky is dark, but if you take a tour of the northern lights on these dates your chances are greater.


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