There is no one best month, because solar activity can be stronger and weaker during whole northern lights season.
However, we experienced more purple northern lights ( especially visible nicely on pictures) during month of September and March.
These two months have according scientist more solar activity than other months, so that could be answer why we see bit more red/purple colours (especially on pictures) during these two months.
And in moth of September usually is not very cold, it’s beautiful Arctic autumn here.
It starts with first dark nights at the beginning of September and finish with last dark nights at the beginning of April.
We have about 4 times higer chances of seeing northern during our tours where we bring you to best possible weather location and far away from city lights.
Sometimes northern lights appears only at the north horizon which is not visible from city center f.e.
Another reason is weather : we bring you as far as 250 kilometers one way in order to get best possible sky for you.
In Tromsø, or in Norway actually could be snowing, so then we drive with you to Finland where is colder and dryer, therefore often clearer.
No, unfortunately not, since northern lights is natural phenomenon and sometimes is simply too low northern lights activity (visible perhaps on camera screen f.e) and sometimes despite our long drive we were not lucky to reach clean sky ( despite weather forecast prediction which was sending us to that location).
Our succes rate is between 90-95% ( depending which year, season it was).
However, we are offering free cancelation of our northern lights tours when we have more than 80% of middle and low clouds coverage at all possible locations.
Northern lights is natural phenomenon and might be strong 5 nights and then weaker 1-5 nights. Therefore, that is not easy to answer to this question.
However, I am always recommending to spend at least 3 nights in Tromsø, that give you reasonably good chances of seeing northern lights.
And for northern lights enthusiasts is more recommended one week, because they wish to see different colours, shapes, or even different moon light with northern lights.
But in general, 3 nights in Tromsø should give you at least one night with one nice northern lights activity ( negativ magnetic polarization of solar particles) and some reasonably good weather ( at some of these many areas where we are driving to).
With our naked eyes we see about 30-50% of color resolution comparing to camera/pictures.
It’s due to the long camera exposure time which capture more light and more colours into one picture taken with relatively long shutter speed ( taken in few seconds f.e.).
So with low northern lights activity northern lights appears for our naked eyes as white/grey with only tiny bit of green shade.
Please feel free to take look on any northern lights apps online, they are getting data from one/same Discovery satelite. That gives you general idea about general predicted strength of solar activity.
Not always. But about 70% yes.
The most important is solar activity which hits directly earth during that particular night and has ideal electro/magnetic charging/polarization of solar particles (ideally in deep negative values).
So, if earth doesn’t get direct hit of solar wind and if electro/ magnetic particles will be not charged negatively, we might experience much weaker northern lights than scientists/applications are predicting.
Only 50-70 minutes in advance ( not more). These informations we are receiving continuously from Discovery satellite, which is only satelite providing these data to all applications/websites.
Yes. Unfortunately for us ( northern lights chasers), these nights occasionally happens. ( according to our experience, about 25 % of strong solar activity is not ideal for creating strong northern lights).
If solar activity which hits directly earth is strong, it will definitely create northern lights. However, if solar particles are charged positively, this might simply not have enough magnetic strengths to create distinguish shapes ( northern lights lines f.e.).
Solar particles will be spreading apart and flying around our magnetic fields without power of creating strong visible northern lights for our naked eyes.
But they will be – most likely- very nicely visible on camera screens/pictures in form of green and possibly purple night sky ( at least during some periods of that particular night).
I like about 30% moonlight. It gives us some light to see nature around and it will be not taking too much of northern lights colours resolution ( visible with our naked eyes).
So, for these customers who likes to see on the pictures nicely mountains, fjords and northern lights, moonlight gives that extra light.
With full moon northern lights pictures looks almost as they were taken during the day. And with strong northern lights, it is definitely an amazing, unforgettable experience.
Little, or no moonlight is recommended to these customers who prefers to see even tiniest shades of gray/green/pink/purple, even when northern lights activity is weaker. With no moonlight you may experience some more northern lights colors with naked eyes, yet you will not have visible mountains, fjords..
Please first learn how to switch your camera to Manual mode (M).
Then Google on internet answers to these 4 questions :
1. How do I change aperture on my (write exact model of yours) camera? The lowest aperture the better, because you will get more light through your lens to your sensor.
2. How can I change Shutter speed on (write exact model of your) camera? You will use anything between 1-30 seconds.
3. How can I change ISO on ( write exact model of your) camera?
4. How can I change auto focus to manual focus on my lens…/camera?
In dark environment many times we have to use Manual focus (MF).
Otherwise during day time you are using most of the time Auto focus (AF).
Please note that for your camera and/or phone you need steady tripod, because shutter speed is simply too long for holding camera/phone still enough.
Some newest mobile phone models support quite nicely night pictures modes, so perhaps you will be able to take nice pictures without tripod, but better to be sure that you know your model well. Please bring your own mobile phone tripod.
All lenses which has Aperture below 4 are good enough.
Ideally Aperture between 1.4-2.8 (max 3.5-4).
And since northern lights display can be really wide, it’s only up to you how wide lens/picture you wish to have.
I personally use lenses between 14-20 milimeters, but even 36 milimeters lens can be nice for shooting northern lights. Please note that lens above 36 milimeters will take only relatively small part of night sky.
If you are not taking RAW pictures which you can adjust later, then it is recommended to be familiar with White Balance function ( so pictures looks as realistically as possible. Not too blue. f.e.).
It depends on model of your camera.
For timelapse you can often download an app and you can shoot 1000 picture which is more than enough for one nice timelapse.
So please check your camera model and timelapse options online, or in shop.
Video is bit more difficult, because northern lights are happening during darkness and therefore you need to have very high ISO ( around 40 000) and at the same time manually chosen aperture of 1/25.
This two functions I am using with my Sony A7Sii camera.
Not many cameras has good resolution with use of very high ISO, unfortunately.
But, some newest mobile phones are quite nicely managing darkness and can take reasonably nice northern lights videos. Please learn how to use your night mode and manual mode with your mobile phone, because we are taking timelapses and videos currently with Sony cameras only.
Every model of new phone has new futures and menu which we are unfortunately not familiar with, therfore we hope that our advices above will help you with correct night setting of your mobile phone.