In Kiruna, as elsewhere, the Aurora Borealis is a physical phenomenon that occurs when electrically-charged particles from the sun collide with the earth’s atmosphere. But under what conditions can they be seen? What are the best ways to see the Northern Lights in Kiruna? How do you photograph them?
In this article, we’ll explain all the essential points you need to know on this subject and be ready to hunt them!
How to see the northern lights in Kiruna?
There are many ways to see the northern lights during your trip to Kiruna. Here are the main ones:
By car
If you plan to rent a car during your stay in Kiruna, you might like to plan an evening of Northern Lights hunting.
You’ll be able to go wherever you like to observe them, and you’ll have all the flexibility you need to move around and reschedule your hunt, for example.
However, if you don’t know anything about it, you may have trouble finding your way around and knowing what to look for…
Accompanied by a professional guide
If you’d like someone to accompany you, you can book a guided tour. On this occasion, a guide will take you from your hotel to a campsite in the Kiruna area.
Then he’ll show you how to set up your camera to capture the northern lights.
All you have to do is wait for the magic to happen and for them to appear, then capture them and enjoy the show around a log fire. The guide will also take photos of you and the aurora, which you can then collect.
During an outdoor activity around Kiruna
There are also packages to combine Northern Lights viewing with an outdoor activity.
You can enjoy them on a dog-drawn sleigh or on a snowmobile. You may not get to see this celestial phenomenon, but you’re sure to enjoy your activity in Kiruna!
Become a real aurora hunter and learn how to tame your camera to try and capture one! Accompanied by a guide, you'll gather around a campfire to admire Kiruna's night sky, devoid of any artificial light.
Embark on a unique hunt for the northern lights, wrapped up in a dog-drawn sleigh. You'll have all the equipment you need to keep out the cold, and by the light of the starry sky, you might just catch a glimpse of the famous northern lights.
Enjoy a memorable experience lasting over 4 hours! Climb aboard your snowmobile and ride through the snow-covered landscape of Kiruna in search of the northern lights. You'll enjoy the feeling of freedom that comes with speed and the panoramic views you'll see.
Conditions for observing them
In Kiruna, the Northern Lights are only visible from September to April . The best time to observe them is between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m., with the most impressive appearances usually between 10 and 11 p.m.
In Lapland, they can be seen around 200 days a year, or more than one day in 2 on average.
Criteria to take into account
Their observation depends on several criteria:
- Cloud cover: obviously, if there are too many clouds in Kiruna, you won’ t be able to see the Northern Lights, as they’ll be hidden. However, if they’re really big, you might be able to see them despite an overcast sky.
- The Kp index: you can find out aboutgeomagnetic activity (measured in Kp). It indicates the rate of appearance of the aurora borealis. The higher the index, the greater the chance of seeing them. For your information, as Kiruna is one of Sweden’s northernmost cities, you could well see some if the index is “only” 3.
- Luminosity: auroras are a million times less luminous than the sun. They can therefore only be observed at night, particularly when the moon is not very bright or even absent. So be sure to stay away from cities, as they produce ambient light levels that can interfere with aurora viewing.
If you really want to give yourself the best chance of seeing the Northern Lights, consider taking a night flight. At this height, if the sky is clear and the conditions are right, you’ll have a prime spot to observe them!
Best places to see the Northern Lights around Kiruna
Here are the 3 best places to watch the Northern Lights in the Kiruna region:
- Kiruna : Sweden’s northernmost city, you can hire a tour operator to take you to see the Northern Lights. Alternatively, you can just look up in the evening and enjoy the show, in a spot away from the city lights .
- Aurora Sky Station : located in Abisko National Park, 100 kilometers west of Kiruna, this site lost in the mountains is renowned for its clear skies. A chairlift takes you up a tower dedicated to observing the northern lights.
- Jukkasjärvi : in this typical Swedish village 15 kilometers east of Kiruna, you can easily find a secluded spot where you can sit back and admire the sky. Alternatively, the Ice Hotel offers safari packages to take you on a hunt for the northern lights.
Photographing the northern lights
The different colors observed for the aurora borealis in Kiruna and elsewhere, ranging from green to red to mauve, depend on the level of oxygen present in the atmosphere.
If you’re lucky enough to see an aurora borealis in Kiruna, you might want toimmortalize the moment by taking a photo. In this section, we’ll give you all the information you need to take the most beautiful photos possible.
The equipment
Capturing an aurora borealis requires special equipment, without which you won’t be able to do it. Here’s the list:
- a camera capable of taking long pauses.
- a sturdy tripod (for windy conditions), essential for avoiding vibrations during pause times.
- a wide-angle lens, capable of focusing to infinity. Otherwise, your camera won’t be able to auto-focus. Alternatively, take your lens with the highest depth of field and focus on the stars.
Optional : a trigger, to further reduce vibration.
What to do?
Once you’ve got your equipment, all you have to do is wait for the moment to present itself. Don’t hesitate to install an application (most of which are free) on your phone, which will notify you as soon as the conditions for viewing the northern lights in Kiruna are right.
If the opportunity arises, you’ll need to be quick : sometimes, auroras don’t remain visible for long. You’ll need to set up your camera on a tripod, in a dark place with as little artificial light as possible.
As far as settings are concerned, open your diaphragm to let in as much light as possible. Focus as far as you can (on stars at near infinity, or even infinity if you have the right lens), otherwise your photo will be out of focus.
For ISO, aim for 400 to 800, to capture enough detail without the photo becoming grainy. You’ll need to increase the exposure time to between 10 and 25 seconds, depending on how quickly the aurora moves.
However, these two factors can be subject to considerable change. So keep an eye on these last two cursors!
You’ve now reached the end of the article dedicated to the hunt for the northern lights. You should now have everything you need to observe them in Kiruna!
