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The problem for those of us who are addicted to chasing down the Northern Lights is that the Midnight Sun creates 24 hours of daylight and it is simply too bright to see the Aurora Borealis. We know the Aurora is there because solar activity continues regardless of the season but frustratingly we can only guess at what is happening overhead.
Northern Lights September 2014. Image credit: Antti Pietikainen
We finally hit the very peak of Solar Cycle 24 in June 2014 and it’s interesting that geophysical research suggests that it is the period after Solar Maximum that often results in more dramatic solar events.
This certainly seems to have been the case since the Midnight Sun waned and the Aurora hunting season started in earnest in late-August and early-September.
In recent weeks, the sun has really sprung into action with some huge sunspots throwing massive solar flares and Coronal Mass Ejections (CME) out into space. Many of these CMEs have been directed towards Earth and the results, culminating in last weekend’s spectacular displays have been astonishing.
Aurora Borealis. Credit Antti Pietikainen
Fortunately, our photographers and guides have been out and about capturing the magic and we’ve put together a few images which illustrate the absolute splendour of Autumnal Auroras.
Autumn Lights reflecting over lake. Image credit: Markku Inkila
If you don’t fancy the cold of winter but are desperate to see the Northern Lights then we can’t recommend autumn strongly enough and these pictures certainly seem to confirm that belief!
Northern Lights in Finnish Lapland! Credit Antti Pietikainen