Are you worried you’ve missed your chance to see the Northern Lights this year? Fear not; the best chance is apparently yet to come. (Featured image by Image Editor)
According to NASA, those hoping to catch a glimpse of one of nature’s most beautiful spectacles will have their best chance in ten years this autumn.
Specialists at the US space administration had originally forecast just one peak in solar activity this year – when conditions are best to see the Lights.
This was due to occur over April and May, but NASA has now revised its predictions about the current period of “solar maximum”.
Rather than one peak of solar activity, experts have said that there will be two. One of these has already happened, over the New Year period, and the other is due this autumn.
Not only does this mean we’ve got plenty of time to plan our trips up North, but we’ll have the best chance in a decade of seeing the stunning phenomenon.
“If it turns out that there is another solar maximum this autumn then visitors will have longer to catch these wonderful displays of colour and lights,” said Dr John Mason, an astronomer and lecturer at the South Downs Planetarium and Science Centre in Chichester.
“For anyone wanting to catch the lights I recommend anywhere above the Arctic Circle – there are great possibilities in Sweden, Finland and Norway. I saw some great displays last month and hope to catch more this month in Alaska.”
The delayed surge in solar activity means that the “solar maximum” period could last until early 2015 – news which has been welcomed by travellers and tour companies alike.
“This is great news for travellers,” said Jonny Cooper, managing director of tour operator Off the Map Travel.
“This will give those of us with a sense of adventure longer to seize the chance to take in the wonders of the aurora.”
