There’s a lot of info out there about aurora hunting, but what about how to hunt northern lights in Iceland? With its ethereal landscape, rapidly changing weather, and, convenient location, these tips are penned with that special island in mind. After a few visits, you’ll see what we mean.

There are countless aurora forecasts and apps floating around on the web. The more used to them you are, the quicker you can understand how to hunt northern lights in Iceland. Eventually you may find that it can be to reference a few of them before heading out, but for now, here is our favorite. 

If you’re new to the aurora forecast scene and you need to know what’s going on in Iceland, you’ve got to check the forecast put out by the Icelandic Meteorological Office. We like this forecast because we know it’s focusing on the cloud cover in our area, and not a global average or a hidden location behind a percentage.

It’s also a great place to catch any unusual weather alerts or natural events that might not be covered in your own home forecasts. Things like avalanche warnings, seismic activity, and volcano alerts. This website is your one stop shop for all forecasting needs in Iceland.

You looked at the aurora forecast, and it looks great! But what is the actual weather doing? Chances are, if the cloud map looked ok, you might be in luck. But it’s always best to double check, because of how quickly Icelandic weather can change and develop by area.

Knowing how to hunt northern lights in Iceland is greatly benefited by knowing about general weather alerts, low pressure systems, high wind, icy conditions and storms in areas that you may be heading to are all things you will want to know before you head out. It might be clear at your starting location, but an hour away might be a different story.

Make sure to scroll through the hours that you’ll be out and see how the prediction develops over time. These things can make or break your trip, and it’s important to be safe while traveling in dark conditions.

If you’ve seen the aurora forecast, you probably have a good idea of where to go. (How? Because you saw where the sky clarity was!) When choosing a direction to venture in, we are looking for areas of clarity first, and then figuring out what roads and landmarks follow that window.

Depending on what time of year you’re hunting in, you may need to check the roads along your projected path, as not all areas receive service in the winter months. Some roads close, some are unpaved, and some may be dangerous at certain times.

The good news is, you can find out all of this info, and see a webcam view of most of them. (The webcam view might not do you much good at night, but it’s a nice tool for daytime use.) Websites like road.is keep track of the status of the roads, if they’ve been serviced, and if they are safe to travel.

This information gets updated frequently, so it’s also a good tool to use while you’re out. It can also help to familiarize yourself with the roads that are in the clear areas you saw on the aurora forecast.

Be careful though, and make sure that you are never stopped on one of these roads while hunting. Icelandic roadways are often small and often lack a shoulder for pulling over, so it is key to wait until you reach a safe space to stop- no matter how good the show is.

(And be careful about private property and gates! Much of Iceland is private farmland, so try to be respectful of where you hunt, and never leave a gate open behind you.)

This might be a no brainer to some, but it can be the difference between getting that great shot, and being left empty handed. Batteries drain faster in cold weather, so don’t rely on a half charged battery for a long aurora hunt. These treks can last a few hours, and you can’t always gauge when the aurora will reveal itself.

Do yourself a favor, and hook all of that gear up before you go. That could mean phones, camera equipment, drones, headlamps, backup batteries, whatever you’ve got. In this respect, it’s better to be too prepared.

(..And don’t forget a USB cord for the road! Depending on your travel situation, many cars and busses have USB ports that can boost a dying device in a pinch.)

This is a point that often gets overlooked, and it’s a very Iceland appropriate topic. If you’re headed out into that dark wintry night, you had better make sure you’re layered, and at least partially waterproof.

You can give or take some of these things depending on how long you’ll be out and what your level of activity will be; but if you’re diving in, you won’t regret it.

Due to a fairly moderate climate (as far as Arctic climates go,) Iceland can be quite wet throughout the auroral season. Pair this with increased wind speeds in the evening, and you’ve got a recipe for some frigid legs. If you’re spending a few hours outside at night, you could benefit from some waterproof gear or insulated pants.

You may also want to dress in layers, as hopping in and out of a vehicle can sometimes be an extreme temperature experience. And don’t forget fingers, necks, ears and ankles!

These are parts that you may need to expose to work cameras, phones, and gadgets- but even the strongest mitts need a break. You might not wear them the whole time, but you’ll appreciate having the choice.

When thinking about how to hunt northern lights in Iceland, checking the forecast and dressing in layers seems pretty straightforward. But what about preparing yourself? For some people, the hunt starts the minute they head out into the darkness.

But for a true aurora hunter, it begins in the afternoon and early evening, when you’re getting that early dinner and pre-hunt nap. You might be out late, and you might work up an appetite!

It’s a real drag to roll back into town around 1:30 am cold and hungry, only to find that your options are severely limited to convenience store snacks at best. If you’re lucky, you may be able to find a 24 hour grocery, but otherwise, most restaurants and eateries will be closed by the time you’re done chasing the lights.

So give your hunt the full attention that it deserves, by making sure your belly is full, and your body is rested. (…And maybe preemptively pick up some snacks for the road. Aurora hunting is hungry work!)

When people talk about how to hunt northern lights in Iceland, they often forget to mention this part. It’s important to be prepared for auroras that may not look like what you’ve seen on postcards and films.

The average, low level aurora may be a bit smokier, darker, or less saturated than you expect. Knowing that they can begin this way can help hone your vision, and can also be the tip that helps you decide between the “cloud or lights?” game that many hunters have to play.

It can also help to know that not every aurora is a swirly ribbon of quickly moving spikes, and they may not even be the color you’re expecting! Some auroras can appear as a diffused glow, spots of activity, or even slowly moving bow shapes.

(Not to be confused with ambient city glow! On a cloudy night, a nearby town can throw off a surprising amount of warm glow into the sky.) Keep an eye out for cool extras like the Imagine Peace Tower in Reykjavik, shooting stars, satellites, constellations, planets, and even STEVE!

This can be a difficult tip depending on your situation, but it’s a good reminder. Our eyes are not designed to view color well in darkness, so aurora hunting can be hard on us.

Depending on your eyesight, the context you’re in, and your own color processing ability, you may find that your experience of viewing the lights is different from the person next to you.

Make sure to compare what you’re seeing, and talk about it! You would be surprised by how different we are. But no matter how sharp your night vision is, remember that you can help it by giving your eyes time to adjust, and avoiding bright lights while you’re out.

Things like phone and camera screens can be adjusted, and easier sources of light like red light flashlights can be acquired to really set the scene and spare your peepers. You don’t have to go full infrared mode, but don’t forget to be gentle to yourself. Aurora hunting is magical and difficult, so go easy on your senses.

This isn’t a requirement, but it can be a helpful strategy. If you have a great spot to watch from, (like a northern lights igloo!), then moving might not be the play for you. But if you’re in a vehicle, or just out wandering, switching up your vista can sometimes help.

When we view the sky, it can feel like we’re seeing the whole thing- but we aren’t. The area you’re watching is a slice. And that slice might be impacted by the grade of the land, obstacles like mountains, trees, or buildings, and sometimes clouds.

It’s good to remember that the northern lights are a global event that are happening to our planet, and not necessarily just us. This can mean that we just aren’t underneath whatever is happening, so movement can sometimes be that extra step that gets us a glimpse.

If you’re waiting on that dream photo, this tip is for you. Don’t wait until you’re SURE it’s an aurora, shoot early, and often! If you think you saw something and you’re not sure, a test shot can be a great way to find out.

Low level wispy activity can be easily sussed out with a sample shot, and it can be a great way to gauge how you’ll need to adjust your settings for that subject. You’d be surprised how dark the lights can be when they’re just getting started, and how much color the camera can pull out in a simple test image, that our eyes could not.

This is a strategy that can also help if you’re in a brighter place and are really struggling to see. The settings dont have to be perfect, but you’ll get a good confirmation when you see that neon green pop up on your camera.

Or not! Sometimes, it really is just a cloud. But until you’re sure, a test is a great way to hone your hunter’s eye and get used to the various forms an aurora can take.

We’ve heard hundreds of different questions, facts, and myths from all over the world. From quandaries as simple as “Can you see the Northern Lights in Michigan?”, to more difficult wonders about what they look like on different planets, and why?

Some of these questions we’ve found answers to, while others are still up for discussion as the science develops- but we’ve gathered some of the popular ones here.

What are some questions you’ve heard about the Northern Lights? Did you find an answer? Compare in the comments below!

FALSE. In artwork, the aurora is often depicted in snowy, Arctic settings, and connected to cold weather. This is definitely an accurate season for aurora watching, but so is the end of autumn, and the beginning of spring. The reason for this is not the temperature, but rather the light cycle during this half of the year.

From the end of April to the beginning of August, it is too bright in Iceland to see auroral light with the naked eye. Auroras can still happen, but we lack the proper darkness to view them. Because the aurora happens above our weather system the warmer temperatures during this off-season do not affect them.

You will find that cloudless nights and cold temperatures do often go together, which helps with visibility. This is because the Earth absorbs the Sun’s heat during the day, and the clouds insulate the Earth and keep that heat from escaping.

If there are no clouds that night, you’ll find that the temperature is colder. A cloudless night certainly does help us see the show, but it isn’t the catalyst that causes the show to happen. So don’t pass up a September or March aurora hunt!

FALSE. No two auroras are the same, and that goes for the conditions you’re viewing them in as well. Add that to the variety of equipment and information out there, and you’re looking at a whole spectrum of opportunity.

On average, an aurora viewed with the naked eye will not match the photos and films that you see in professional publications. This isn’t necessarily because of photoshop, (it can be), but rather because of how the human eye and nighttime photography work.

In a nutshell, human eyes were not designed to perceive light well in dark places, so we have trouble seeing full color at night. Cameras on the other hand do not have this problem and are able to be manually adjusted to brighten certain aspects of a scene.

This is a type of photography commonly used to create dramatic portraits, realistic theatre or performance shots, and nighttime or astronomical photos. Pictures like these are made by utilizing a higher ISO, a longer shutter speed, and a lower aperture, among other things that are up to the photographer.

Depending on how bright the location is and how strong the aurora is, you may have to adjust in different ways to get the image you want. These types of photos traditionally required fairly advanced gear, but with the advancement of available technology, it is becoming easier to capture more realistic images.

These days, you can snap a shot on a smartphone, or even live film with a camera that allows manual control during filming. This doesn’t mean that the photos that you see are fake, but it can mean that they are processing the low lumen light in a more efficient way than the human eye, creating a more saturated and complete image.

Of course, we can’t speak for every image, so there are always possibilities that additional editing was applied. You may find that your own color processing ability is also at play while aurora watching, and should compare what you’re seeing with those around you. You would be surprised how many people see the same thing in different ways!

TRUE. One of the most important and popular questions of all time, is if you can see the Northern Lights where you live. We hear these questions often from people in continental Europe and the northern areas of the United States, and the short answer is that it IS possible.

It may not be a regular occurrence, but during a geomagnetic storm or a night of intense auroral activity, the lights can and have crept down that far. There are photos of aurorae visiting uncommon places all over the web, and even just recently an alert from a past storm that they might travel down as far as Maryland.

On average, low-level activity stays close to the pole, which is why it is so common in the Arctic area. But the more geomagnetic activity that there is, the more possible it is for it to appear further away from those poles.

We also now have STEVE to look forward to, which has been reported to occur closer to the equator. So if you’re in Michigan, don’t lose hope! Every now and then Lady Aurora definitely does makes a trip.

FALSE. When looking for the northern lights, it is recommended to remove yourself from all sources of light pollution. This includes manmade sources like streetlights and city lights, but it can also mean organic sources like the Sun, or moonlight.

There is often a lot of chatter about checking the moon phase before you go out, and many forecasting services often include it. But it certainly does not mean you’re 100% out of luck if you find yourself stuck with a full moon.

In my experience, a darker sky can mean easier viewing, but some brightness can be a photographic dream. The light from a fuller moon can provide you with important foreground illumination that can help highlight a landmark, landscape, or even a person.

These shots may require some tinkering to get the correct settings and avoid overexposure, but they can be some of the most beautiful. A full moon can be hard on your eyes, but it definitely isn’t game over for an intrepid hunter.

FALSE. Typically, northern lights will occur in a northerly direction more often than not, because few things are further north than the magnetic pole. All of us are more than likely going to be below the activity, which makes this an easy tip to give someone who is trying to orient themselves.

However, if you’re already pretty far north, (which we are), and the geomagnetic activity is high, it is possible that the aurora is not always happening north of you. Activity can manifest overhead, or to the south- or even to the side.

This can depend on the optical illusion of where you are while you watch, what obstacles or landmarks are obscuring your view, and how the activity is manifesting in the sky at that moment.

If you have a wider and further reaching view to the East, you may be more likely to catch a visualization in that direction rather than in a direction where you may be up against a mountain.

At the end of the day, we are small, and the Earth and the Northern Lights are huge, and it can be hard to grasp the visual scale or distance of a celestial event. The lights will always be north to someone, but don’t forget that that person may not be you- and look around! They do have a tendency to sneak up on you when you least expect it.

TRUE. Over the past 20 years, scientists have been hard at work getting to know the full impact and behavior of geomagnetic activity and also improving the imaging technology that we use to perceive such systems on Earth.

Multiple studies have been conducted over these past two decades that have taught us that the lights are not twins, but siblings. While they do happen simultaneously at both poles, they do not perfectly mirror each other as many have said in the past.

So yes, it is true that they happen at the same time, but currently untrue that they are identical. Stay tuned as further developments surface!

TRUE. This is one of the more modern and widely shared folkloric beliefs pertaining to the northern lights. Aurora myths have been held as an oral tradition in many areas around the world, including the Southern Hemisphere.

Due to their striking appearance and occasional intense coloring, one can imagine how the appearance of intense auroral activity may have been frightening to ancient, and some not so ancient, people.

There is even as recently as the 1800s, written proof that multiple cultures linked large instances of northern lights with notable battles and disasters. Read more about the spectrum of beliefs here.

TRUE. This is a question that has been asked for a long time and has only very recently been verified. Though the full effects of geomagnetic activity are surely not known in entirety, scientists believe that their magnetism may interact or interfere with the magnetism belonging to animals and other biological creatures.

It is not news to many that migratory animals move North to South throughout their lives in order to nest, reproduce, and follow feeding routes. This is a phenomenon seen throughout the world in many climates, particularly here in Iceland where we are visited by multiple migratory species, namely puffins and whales.

As recently as 2018 scientists have begun to study the magnetism of mammals, insects, and even bacteria. There have been many theories put forth about emotional interference, different health and sleep functions, and other curiosities, but thus far these things are all still being researched.

So for now, this question stands at “True”. While we currently have no findings to prove that geomagnetic activity is harming life, we can certainly infer that a big storm may temporarily put animal navigational systems offline for a bit. And maybe us, too!

TRUE. This question has been making the rounds for years, and many aurora hunters have their own anecdotal answer. Right now, multiple branches of research are being conducted about if this is true, and if so, how?

One of the more popular theories is from a research group headed by Aalto University Professor Unto K. Laine. They’ve introduced the “inversion layer hypothesis”, which infers that sound is born through a geomagnetic storm’s interaction with our atmosphere’s inversion layer.

The charges activated by the storm cause the popping and crackling sounds that people have reported hearing during certain auroral occurrences. But this is only one of the theories, there are multiple others floating around currently being researched, many by universities.

(One of them says pine needles are to blame!) But don’t take our word for it- have you ever heard the northern lights? Let us know in the comments!

FALSE…FOR NOW. As technology advances, the answer to this question changes dramatically. Up until recently, the only way to capture the northern lights on film was to use a camera that allowed manual control.

This meant that typical point and shoot machines of the 2000-2010s, disposables, phone cameras, basic film, and nearly all auto-setting cameras were out of luck. The reason for this is not that they are necessarily lacking some feature, but more that they were using a default daylight setting array to create photos.

The settings that we use to create nighttime photos do not come naturally to the camera, as they would be challenging to use and would make it difficult for us to capture typical photos of a lit subject.

So if the tool you are using to take photos does not allow you to adjust the ISO or the shutter speed (among other things), you may find yourself with a roll of dark images!

These days, however, technology is catching up to us and many simpler photo tools (like phones) are coming prepackaged and ready with “Night mode”! This is an exciting feature that puts auroral photography into the hands of nearly any hunter, and has only been the product of the past few years!

Who knows how easy it will be to make phenomenal photos in the future?

“…if I never get to see the northern lights.” We hear things like this a lot. For many, auroras are a once-in-a-lifetime experience. People come from all over the world, with very little time, and big hopes to catch one- and if possible, we want to help make that happen.

Maybe you’ve even tried already but came away unsuccessful. Perhaps you live in a place where auroras could possibly happen?

Either way, we want to make sure that you DO see the northern lights. So we’ve gathered together our biggest glow-pas (ha), in hopes that they will better prepare you for the hunt. Have one to share? Let us know about it!

Once I overheard a woman in a cafe angrily describing a trip to Zimbabwe. I had to listen in, because I couldn’t imagine how a dream trip like that could go awry. It turns out she had been planning this trip for ages and had come to see the great thundering waters of Victoria Falls.

But she missed a key detail to the plan- and that was WHEN to visit. You see, she wanted to see Victoria Falls in full spray, active with gushing water and huge currents.

But Victoria Falls experiences a wet season, and a dry one- and in the dry one, there may still be water, but it’s a bit less than what you might have seen on that postcard or commercial.

While there are still just as many reasons to visit in the dry season (like being able to walk across the falls to Zambia!)- if you expected to see the crashing water, you might be disappointed. Iceland is like this in many ways, in that we experience a “light season”, and a “dark season”.

This means that while the aurora happens above us all the time, we can only see it from mid-August to mid-April, at best. The brightness of the Midnight Sun in our summer months is just too great to allow visibility of auroral light, so we have to wait for the return of true darkness in the autumn.

Just like Victoria Falls, we have a lot of incredible things going on in our summer period as well- but if you came for auroras, you might find yourself disappointed.

Visiting in winter and finding it a bit dark? Don’t worry, so are we. In the height of winter, we only receive a few hours of direct sunlight- and that’s on a good day. If it’s overcast (which it often is), you may feel like you haven’t seen the sun in days!

(And in some parts of Iceland, that may be true!) Iceland experiences the maximum of dark hours at the winter solstice in December, and after that, the nights begin to shorten.

While this does often mean you can start aurora hunting a bit earlier, it does not mean that you can set out at 4:00 pm. Is it after sunset? Yes! But there are layers of darkness, so to speak, and you still need to wait for optimal dark hours to be able to perceive the northern lights with the naked eye.

On a great night with huge activity, it can be possible to view an aurora as early as 8:00 pm, but typically most hunters will be out looking between 10:00 pm – 2:00 am on average.

This doesn’t mean that nothing can happen before and after that window, but typically we experience better visibility at this time.

Keep an eye out on the light cycle though, wherever you are! These hours may fit Iceland, but depending on how close you are to the pole, your cycle may vary.

This may sound dramatic, but every aurora hunter has been taken down by clouds at least once. The northern lights happen above our weather system, so if it’s cloudy, there can be a phenomenal show going on and we can still miss it.

This can be difficult in a place like Iceland, where midwinter brings us not only the greatest dark hours, but also the greatest low-pressure storm season. These are big, moody, windy storms that can bring a great deal of precipitation or cloud cover.

They can move fairly quickly, which sometimes means that the next day will be clear skies and mild weather. But, sometimes they linger for days. This can be a good reason to look for lights early in your visit, in case you do cross paths with one of these blustery visitors.

But even on a stormless night, you can still meet some impressive cloud cover. (We are in the middle of the North Atlantic, after all!) When you head out for a hunt, make sure to check the aurora forecast first. These forecasts will let you see the cloud cover over time, and will also tell you what layers of the sky are experiencing cover.

This can be good to know, because different types of clouds exist at different altitudes, and can mean different types of cover.

The way that a good hunter picks a trajectory, is by seeing what areas will be clear. But don’t fret! Cloud cover can and will move throughout the evening, and the forecasts do not always have the ability to account for small holes of clarity within them.

Sometimes, all you need to catch the show is a single window in the sky.

Sometimes, not even the brightest blaze can compete with Lady Aurora. But on an average night, we need a little extra help to see her. The Northern Lights occur at a low lumen, and so it helps if your eyes have been able to adjust to the darkness when you look for them.

If you are in a brightly lit area, near a streetlight, or hanging out in the headlights of your car- you may struggle to pick out the faint green tail of an auroral glow. In fact, some people will only use red light flashlights when they’re out hunting- and may dim the light settings on their equipment.

These steps are pretty serious, but it is a good reminder that your eyes do need time to adjust to darkness and that you should be prepared to search for lower level auroras.

Not all occurrences appear as huge jagged shapes with supernatural brightness. Some are soft glows that are so dim, that they can only be picked up by camera. (So if you’re scanning the horizon and you’re not completely sure, try a test shot!

A correctly set camera will proliferate the light, so this can be an easy way to discern if what you’re seeing is aurora, or just wispy clouds passing through. (This doesn’t mean that you have to go hours away into the interior of the country, but if you do have the option, getting outside of the city can help.

The quality of darkness improves a great deal even just 15 minutes outside of town. Cities create big bubbles of light pollution around themselves, and while Reykjavik or Akureyri don’t create nearly enough light to compete with mainland light pollution, it is still surprising how much it changes your surroundings to be near it.)

There are a lot of tips and tricks out there, but none of them can compete with the fact that an aurora is a planetary occurrence that is happening to Earth from Outer Space.

What I’m getting at here is that it’s huge, and the piece that we sometimes see is only a piece of a greater whole, and that whole is moving. It can be hard to imagine how minuscule we are in comparison, but what might be a sky-filling explosion of light to us, may just be a fraction of a bigger occurrence.

You can get a better idea of what I mean by viewing an aurora from space, or by checking out a forecast model that shows the predicted footprint of the northern lights on our planet.

The obstacle here is understanding that the northern lights are less like a piece of lightning, and more like the storm system that the lightning belongs to. (Unless we’re doing a different metaphor, then the northern lights are definitely like a lightning strike. But I digress.)

Sometimes you get lucky, and the aurora wanders right up when you’re having a drink outside in your hot pot. But other times, the northern lights really do require a hunt, and that means movement to keep up.

It is not uncommon for groups of hunters to report different findings, or for neighbors to see an aurora, while neighbors a few kilometers away did not. This could mean that your section of visible sky was active, but maybe the vista a stone’s throw over was not.

Sometimes this can be because of actual obstacles in your path- like the grade of the land, a mountain range, or how close your house is to another house. These obstacles don’t always seem as problematic as they may be, but if you are looking out of one view all night, you get just that. One view.

And sometimes, this can mean just simply turning your body. Many sources tell you to keep your eyes on the north for the lights, but that is not always the case. Oftentimes in a place as far north as Iceland, it can feel like the aurora is happening overhead, or even in a direction other than north.

(This is where that detail comes in again- that the lights are a global occurrence, and they are happening to EARTH. Not just Iceland.) So stay alert while you’re out, and keep an eye peeled in every direction. You never know where Lady Aurora is going to sneak up from.

This is not an obstacle per se, but it certainly is a thing that comes up. No two instances of northern lights are ever the same, so it can be hard to recognize if you’re not used to seeing it.

This is especially the case when the aurora is low level or occurring in an unfamiliar shape or color pattern. Many people set out on their first hunt after seeing incredible footage from world-class photographers and documentarians.

These shots are career-making images that likely took a lot of time and skill to create. The typical stuff doesn’t usually make the postcards and National Geographic covers. Seeing ANY kind of aurora is spectacular and special- but be ready to catch whatever comes to you.

This may mean darker colors that are harder to pick out, like misty whites, strange olive greens, and cool grey purples. It may also mean shapes that aren’t particularly “snakey”, like diffused glows, cirrus cloud shapes, whisps, and long bowed streaks.

The aurora can move quickly and appear to “dance”, but this is not always the case. Sometimes it’s a slow pulse, or even just a fade that you fail to clock until it’s gone. A softer aurora can appear to be a cloud, or a smoke formation- which can get pretty confusing when the wind is quickly blowing the clouds and the ground is puffing up huge geothermal breaths of hot white steam into the night.

An easy way to check can be to take a long-shutter/high ISO camera shot of the “thing” in question, but after a while, you do get used to the telltale sign of a quiet little aurora starting out in the night.

They may not all be full-on Carrington Events, but each one of them is a rare gift, that traveled all the way from the Sun, to you.

Look, we get it. Reykjavik has one heck of a nightlife, and there are at least a hundred different places to eat that we still haven’t tried- and it’s so cozy… But! It’s also full of twinkly Christmas lights, and street lights, and illuminated windows and art installations, and whathaveyou.

As you know from tips 4 and 5, these things can get in the way of an optimal auroral view. And sometimes you just can’t help it, you don’t have wheels! If you’re here for the lights, we highly recommend getting yourself out of the hustle and bustle into the real country darkness.

Even if you only head about 10 minutes out, the quality changes considerably. But, if you’re only in town for a few nights, you can still check out some of Reykjavik’s best aurora spots, get chauffeured out to a northern lights igloo for one evening, or even grab a tour for a few hours.

All of these options will secret you away to some better watch locations, and one of them gets you a warm down comforter with a bottle of bubbly.

This obstacle is one of the bigger ones, and by bigger, I mean sun-sized. All of our northern lights come from one place, and that place is the Sun. Every swirly green burst of polar light that you’ve ever enjoyed began as a volatile little send-off from our galaxy’s most important star.

The good news is that the Sun is a fiery individual, and is regularly sending out pieces of itself through solar wind. Solar wind passes over our planets (and everything else), and can create aurorae on a fairly regular basis because of Earth’s magnetic field.

Sometimes, the Sun expels a great deal of activity through solar flares or Coronal Mass Ejections, and larger geomagnetic storms make their way over to us. Geomagnetic storms usually create larger, more impressive lights- and can even in rare circumstances create Carrington Events, which can affect our electrical grid.

Carrington Events are extremely rare, but geomagnetic storms can happen a couple of times a year- depending on the year and the solar cycle that we are in at the time. But every now and then, the Sun is quiet. This is fairly rare, but you can see how things are going in an aurora forecast.

These forecasts will tell you on a scale of 0-9, how much geomagnetic activity is bopping around in our atmosphere. This is known as the K-index, or Kp scale, and is a paraphrased way for us to measure this solar activity, and infer how far from the pole an aurora might be able to reach.

This system is still very much a developing science, so if you see a zero on the forecast, do not fret! Odds are, this may be a visually quiet night, but activity has still been known to appear on Kp 0 nights with clear skies.

Some instances of the northern lights blink on and off all night for hours. These are usually dreamy nights in the countryside, where you don’t need to move about, you can just kick back and watch. In the city, you can watch a good show for a few minutes, or maybe a half hour, walking down the street or parked at a cafe with a coffee.

Some of these city lights are so fleeting, that you find out about them after they’ve happened, from local photos and the forgotten alerts on your aurora apps.

It may be that someone in a darker place is watching this aurora for a bit longer, but in a brightly lit place, it is harder to pick out the finer pieces and more diffused glows, so you can end up watching for less time.

It’s a frustrating reason to miss the lights, but when you’re struggling with light pollution every minute counts. So be quick about those bathroom breaks!

And on the other end of the time spectrum, we have the old adage “good things come to those who wait”. Many a disappointed adventurer has bemoaned their fruitless hunt, only to hear from the person next door that they were successful! But how?

Sometimes it’s something as simple as the areas you were both in, the cloud cover differences, or even the amount of light pollution. As wee human beings, we can only cover so much ground.

But sometimes, it’s the waiting. It’s not always the most comfortable activity, cruising around in the darkness and braving winter weather. Hunting for a thing that can be challenging to find, maybe for many hours. It’s no wonder that some people call it quits early.

There have been nights where I myself have done the same. But when you’re out there, know that every night is different, and the activity displays itself on its own time, if at all.

So despite all of the tips and tricks in the world, sometimes one of the best things you can do on a hunt is take your time. Lady Aurora often shows up you when you least expect her.

Looking for an Iceland Northern Lights hotel on your winter adventure? Choosing your activities while you’re here is one thing, but what about where you’re staying?

From the northernmost reaches of the island to transparent dome accommodations, there’s a whole spectrum of choice for those that have auroras on the brain.

We’ve done some of the legwork for you, and collected 10 of our favorites, in no particular order, other than clockwise around the country. Let us know which ones you’ve tried!

Nothing maximizes your chances of catching a rogue aurora quite like staying in a northern lights igloo.

These “Bubbles” are completely transparent dome structures, outfitted with heating and luxurious downy beds.

Sequestered in two forests, one in the South Coast and one in the Golden Circle– one can be collected in Reykjavik and treated to a private tour before being chauffeured to your private forest grove.

You can’t get much closer to nature, and you certainly won’t be warmer than this on an aurora hunt.

Located close to the Blue Lagoon and the airport, this is a great spot for those on a short stopover, or with an early flight the next day.

Tucked away in the lava fields of the Reykjanes peninsula, this cozy getaway has a great restaurant (named after the owner’s golden retriever, Max), and an observation deck for aurora viewing.

And like many of these hotels, there’s a northern lights wake up service!

Heading down the southern coast, is Hotel Rangá. A favorite for skygazers due to its on site observatory and telescope room, you will certainly find yourself thoroughly entertained while staying here.

Whether you’re watching from your themed bedroom, or a geothermal hot pot, the log cabin walls of Rangá are a special treat to experience.

If you’ve made it to the western wilds of Iceland, you’ll appreciate a stay at the boutique Hótel Búðir.

With views of the famous black church (of the same name), this is a gorgeous destination.

You may have a hard time only focusing on the lights here- in between the carefully decorated hotel, the towering glacier, and the vast countryside at your doorstep.

Many brave the ring road, but few make it to Iceland’s hidden gem, the Westfjords.

The Holt Inn is both family-run and built in an old school house. A visit here is an experience not to be missed.

Nearby to some of Iceland’s only colored beaches, from here you can set out to see white and even red sand.

The light pollution in this area is nearly unmatchable, as the Westfjords are not heavily populated.

Tucked away in the dramatic mountains of north Iceland, Deplar Farm is a destination for those who crave adventure and solitude.

This converted sheep farm is outfitted with helipads, geothermal pools and an outfitted band loft for live music.

If you can pull yourself away from the activities and the spa, you might find that you’re in a great spot to aurora watch.

Just 3.5 km outside of the “capital of the North”, Hótel Kjarnalundur is an oasis in a sea of trees.

For those that seek some proximity to bustling town life while still enjoying the peace of the northern countryside, this is a great spot to watch from.

And it doesn’t hurt that they’re surrounded by lush forest hiking trails! This area promises a myriad of places to set up your camera and wait undisturbed.

Nearby to the northernmost point in Iceland is the Hótel Norðurljós. This spot is a bit out of the way for the typical traveler, but it is worth the trek.

This hotel is located in the same area as the Arctic Henge, a colossal stone monument reminiscent of Stonehenge.

A trip out this way is worth it just to see the Henge, but this area is also known for Arctic deep-sea fishing, bird watching, and even Arctic Foxes.

A great stop in the summer as well (as the Henge is a giant sundial of sorts), a northern lights photo in front of this landmark is not to be passed up.

With mountain views and a grill for each cabin, you can’t argue with a stop at the Aurora Cabins in Höfn.

One of the largest towns in the southeast, Höfn is well known for its lobster dishes and dramatic mountains.

There are some great photos to be had out this way, and some great restaurants as well. On a ring road trip, it can be a nice change to have a whole cabin to yourself.

(Especially when there’s a BBQ on the front porch!)

Just down the road from some of Iceland’s most famous glacier lagoons and the Diamond Beach, is this luxe hideaway.

Fosshótel is a known institution throughout the country and has now put up a location along one of the quietest stretches of the route 1.

This is a peaceful area alongside the towering glacier and the black sand deserts. And as you will be out here nearly all alone, you can bet that the skies will be plenty dark when the aurora shows up.

These days there are countless apps and websites that promise key insight into the northern lights forecast in Iceland. Many of them work in different ways and are focused on different parts of the globe- or sometimes even the planet as a whole.

(The Northern Lights ARE a planetary occurrence!) This can create some interesting changes in how that data is interpreted, that you may not even be aware of.

For instance, some of these services are factoring in sky clarity, or cloud cover, into their prediction. This can happen often in apps where a percentage of visual probability is given.

If this cloud radar data is not for the area that you’re in, you might be getting someone else’s prediction! It can be challenging to know what data the service is using, sometimes. Especially as these details are not always transparent.

That’s why one of our favorite services is the Icelandic Meteorological Office. Since we’re looking for Northern Lights in Iceland, it helps that the cloud radar that we’re seeing on their webpage is specifically for Iceland, and not say- for Alaska or Svalbard.

(Which, don’t get me wrong- super interesting stuff! But if I’m cruising the coast in Akranes looking for a glow, that’s not going to give me much to go on.) When you’re mapping out a trajectory, make sure you’re checking the sky in the place you’re currently in!

Scientific knowledge of the aurora is fairly new, in the grand scheme of things. (Especially when you think about how recent some of the folktales are!) All things considered, people have gotten quite good at figuring out how and when it may happen.

Many questions about the aurora have been answered even over the past few years, and the ability to track and study the phenomenon has flourished. Research stations all over the globe and places like NASA’s Heliophysics laboratory have added many layers to what we initially knew about one of the planet’s most curious light shows. But, we are still learning.

Perhaps we will never stop. It is good to remember this when you are busy interpreting a forecasting tool.

It is possible for the Kp number to be incorrect, or the cloud radar to be slow. Auroras are space weather, and though our predictions are guided by years of data, it is still possible for us to gauge the speed of an incoming solar storm incorrectly.

After years of watching the forecast every day, it has happened that on a Kp 0 night, we got lucky! It has also happened that on a Kp 7 or 8 night, we were not. Always remember that forecasts are a great tool, and a guideline- but they are not 100%.

If you’re visiting Iceland within the auroral season, and the sky is clear- it is always worth having a look.

So you’ve seen an aurora forecast, but what’s that number, and why is everyone saying it’s a “5 night”? This is the Kp planetary index, K-index, or Kp index. This number belongs to a 0-9 scale that references a metric that people use to gauge the level of geomagnetic activity.

This number is referencing the activity within a 3 hour period, in order to achieve a more realistic picture of the activity at that time. This is why checking the forecast in advance can be tricky.

This number is a great guideline for what’s going on, but it is not definitive, and is only as good as the data being collected to create it. Different factors can affect how this number is achieved, and how it applies to us- and so for this reason it is important to remember that it is one of the many tools in a hunter’s kit, but not the only one.

This whole situation is layered! Once you know about the K-index and what it stands for, it’s helpful to know how that applies to where we are.

We know that the aurora is a polar phenomenon most of the time, but then why does it sometimes show up in North America or continental Europe?

It’s possible, and understanding why helps to explain the K-index in a different way. Because of all of this data collected over time, scientists have been able to gauge how high the level of activity needs to be, for an aurora to grow a certain distance away from the pole.

Like everything else related to forecasting, this too is not 100%, but it is a system built over time that is supported by carefully collected data.

(Science and nature do love an exception!) You can see on many charts and graphics just like this one, that the Kp or K-index typically correlates to a specific “ring” or “slice” of the globe.

These numbers from the chart tell us that if the solar activity is at a 5 level of strength, it is possible for it to reach as far as South Dakota on the globe.

Does that mean that on a 5 night, it definitely will? Or that if it does, we are guaranteed to see it? Not necessarily.

It means that should all factors occur as on a typical level 5 night, it is possible for the activity to reach that far south.

However, it does not take into account what the clarity and light pollution factors are in your area, which is why the K-index is only one piece of an aurora forecast.

When forecasting an aurora, we typically don’t look too far ahead of ourselves. This is a bit out of our hands, as the Kp index functions on such a small time period anyways. Our very own northern lights forecast in Iceland even runs on three days cycles at a time.

So figuring out when we can see the northern lights is on our minds often!

And of course, if you’ve been here before- you’ve probably already heard someone say “If you don’t like the weather, just wait five minutes.” Icelandic weather is at times capricious and volatile, so it seems we have something in common with space after all.

If you’re hunting for auroras, it’s important to remember to exist in the NOW. They are elusive, they defy all odds, and no two are ever alike. If you’re planning an excursion, try to book it near the beginning of your trip so that you have time to try again if you need to.

And above all else, keep your eyes peeled! If the sky is clear, there is always a chance. Some of the best auroras have happened to us while taking out the trash, driving home, or while having a tiny impromptu stroll. Like some of the best things, it often happens when you’re paying the least attention.

Now that we’ve told you to loosen your collar and get spontaneous- here’s some advice from the other end of the spectrum! (..You will find that this is very characteristic of aurora hunting. Do everything, and nothing, all at once!)

The forecast itself is very focused on the current time, but what about the science of it all, and the bigger picture? Well, it’s true. For the next-level hunter, there are some old reliables that you can depend on when making your predictions. We’re talking about solar cycles and the tracking of sunspots.

To simplify it all the way down, we are all spinning, and these orbital patterns create seasons or sections of measurable time. The Sun also experiences this and has cycles that we refer to as solar maximum and solar minimum.

These are believed to be 11 year cycles in which the Sun’s magnetic field flips from north to south, and is characterized by sunspot activity or prevalence.

Therefore, in solar maximum you can expect more sunspots or increased sunspot activity than you would in solar minimum. A prevalence of active sunspots can be good news for aurora watchers, as they are often responsible for more volatile solar activity, like the release of solar flares and prominences.

They are almost like volcanoes in that way, and these bursts of activity that they send off mean better and more powerful displays of auroral light. One can track these sunspots, as they are visible fixtures on the surface of the sun.

You can even try it out yourself at home with activities like this. For people that regularly track auroras, knowing when a sunspot is coming up is a nice way to gauge when activity might be high again in the future.

Like all aspects of auroral activity, this is not guaranteed, but it is one of the more long-term dependable factors that we know of at this time. Not visiting on a sunspot night, or even within solar maximum?

Don’t worry! These factors may result in high activity, but it has been proved time and time again that we do not require them for great northern lights adventures.

The forecast is looking good, you’ve got an idea where you’re headed, and the plans are in place. You’re even preparing to take a few photos while you’re out. But what are the conditions going to be while you’re out?

It can be helpful to know what the moon phase will be while you’re out so that you have an idea of what kind of visibility conditions you’ll be working in.

Don’t worry if it’s a full moon- though it can create a great deal of light pollution, it does not make visibility impossible. A full moon can create some really helpful foreground light so that you can capture a semi-lit nature shot.

Though a darker sky can be easier on the eyes, there’s certainly something special about a full moon shot. Be ready to adjust your camera settings accordingly!

Since you’re hunting in Iceland, it’s safe to assume you’re using our favorite northern lights forecast. But at a glance, do you know what you’re looking for?

This forecast comes in two halves, the Earth half, and the space half on the right. The “space half” is just the 0-9 Kp number on the side, letting us know what the solar activity is up to. The “Earth half”, is the map.

At first glance it can look like the colored places on the map might indicate auroral activity or visible lights- but that is not the case. This map is only showing us the cloud cover. You can choose to view a layer of the sky or the entire sky altogether.

(Different types of clouds form in different layers of the sky, so sometimes you can find that the cloud cover might not be so serious after all, because of where it is.)

But no matter which layer of the map you’re using, don’t forget that the colored spaces on the map are the thing we’ve trying to avoid. We are looking for white or clear areas on the map because that is where the clouds are not.

Try using the sliding scale at the bottom of the map to see how the clouds plan to move over the course of the 3 day period. You can also view a wind forecast if you want to see a more detailed view over time of how the directionality might change.

If you’re lucky, those clouds will get blown away before you’re even out there! Or maybe, you ended up with some wispy cirrus clouds, high up above us in the topmost layer.

Either way, as long as you’ve got some clarity over top, you’re set. (And don’t forget that earlier tip, to take this with a grain of salt!

We’ve gotten pretty good over time at predicting Earth weather, but even the cloud map can be slow, or too vast to catch tiny windows of clarity in your immediate area.

Sometimes, that imperceptible window through the fog is all you need to catch the show. So look up, no matter what!)

You’ve seen our favorite northern lights forecast in Iceland, but where does that data come from? Some of it comes to us from the Leirvogur Magnetic Observatory in Mosfellsbær, Iceland.

At Leirvogur, scientists have been taking measurements of Earth’s magnetic field since 1957. This has given us the ability to note magnetic disturbances in real-time, as their data is updated every 10 minutes. They are another great tool to have in your kit if you want to see how the Kp number is decided.

But all forecasts are different kinds of tools, so why not look further? NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center is another great source for space weather updates. On this page dedicated to fellow sky enthusiasts, you can view a myriad of different forecasting tools.

From the conditions on the sun to the solar wind update, all the way down to a visual rendering of the auroral oval. This is a great example of how many pieces must fit together in order for auroras to be known about, and then found. Check them out, and tell us about your favorite!

Preparing for a night out hunting is a key step. This means charging up your camera batteries and headlamps, collecting all your gear, packing away your snacks, and making sure you’ve got all the layers and mittens and hand warmers you can carry.

But what about the forecast? Many of these services have mobile apps or can just load up in your phone or tablet browsers. On average, many of these forecasts will update between 3 and 10 minutes, so you never know what magnetic spikes or cloud movements may be on the way.

If possible, bring them with you! Being able to follow the cloud map live (while someone else drives, of course!) can sometimes make all the difference on a chase.