Blog - Lights over Lapland AB

Environment Northern Lights

What is Solar Maximum?

There’s a big wave of excitement rolling through the aurora community right now, and that wave is called “Solar Maximum”. I’m sure you’ve seen your local and national press announcing headlines like “Aurora to be seen all over the UK this week”, or “Aurora visible in mainland US tonight”, and these announcements are becoming more and more frequent. And, they’re becoming frequent because of the current stage of Solar Cycle 25 – Solar Maximum. So, I thought it would be useful to talk through what “Solar Maximum” means and why this is getting us all excited!

Northern Lights Team

Where will you be when solar maximum arrives?

It is hard to believe it, but our 11th aurora season has officially come to an end in Abisko National Park, Sweden! The 2022/23 aurora season was one for the record books! Lights Over Lapland welcomed thousands of guests from all over the planet and our team world class professionals helped the vast majority of those guests see powerful auroras that will forever live in their memories. Looking back on the season is always a pleasure, but this year was special and the volume of powerful, fast moving auroras was off the scale. Our team of aurora guides has more than 60 years of combined experience under the northern lights and we all agree on one simple fact: we have never experienced a season with as many powerful auroras as the one we just completed! That said, the fun is far from over! As we approach Solar maximum, we should only expect the Sun to become more active and for the auroras to become even more intense! The current Solar cycle is set to peak in 2025 which means that our guests and guides are in for a real treat for the next couple aurora seasons!

Northern Lights

Why you should book a guided tour to see the Northern Lights!

Are you planning a trip to experience the magic of the Northern lights? Then you will likely face the inevitable question: Once you’re in Swedish Lapland, should you venture off on your own or book a guided Aurora tour? While it may seem like a good idea to just step outside and look at the sky to watch the Aurora dance above your head, booking a guided tour comes with many advantages that will most definitely enhance your experience. Let’s take a look at some of them!

Environment

End of Polar night!

These days, the first rays of direct sunlight begin to peak above Abisko’s snow-covered mountaintops. If you are visiting now you may still feel that the days are a lot shorter than what you are used to at home. Yet if you look closely at the faces of the people around you’ll find a spark that lights their eyes and lifts the corners of their mouths. Polar night — the darkest time of the year (a phenomenon you should experience at least once in your life if you get the chance) — is coming to an end.

Environment Northern Lights

All about the light!

The northern lights and a full moon make an incredible couple. Wait, what? That can’t be right. After all, isn’t as little external light as possible the key to witnessing the dancing Auroras with our own eyes? Indeed, it is. Light pollution is a big factor determining whether we may or may not see the Northern lights in certain locations. It is also one of the reasons why Abisko is one of the best places on earth to see the Auroras. Still, the moon certainly is a force to be reckoned with. Let’s take a look at what that means.

Environment Team

Lights Over Lapland photographer Sara Brockmann is proud to present her images and stories about life with reindeer!

Environment Northern Lights

Solar maximum in Abisko!

There is a buzz in the Lights Over Lapland office this year. Solar Cycle 25 is here and that means amazing things for the northern lights in Abisko. The sun’s surface is glistening with lots of big sunspots, which could erupt into huge solar flares at any time. Add in the chance of coronal holes, huge openings in the sun’s atmosphere allowing high speed solar winds to escape, then we have the perfect recipe for an amazing aurora season this coming winter.

Environment Northern Lights

What a strange, yet fantastic time to be alive!

As we end the Summer season in Abisko, and approach the Autumn and the return of auroras dancing in the night sky, we can’t help but look back at and reflect upon our last season in Abisko. As we remines about last winter, one thing is clear: it was easily one of the best aurora seasons that our team of guides have ever seen.

Northern Lights

Northern Lights Holidays For Solo Travellers in Sweden

If you are dreaming of seeing the Northern Lights and are looking for a good place to visit as a solo or single traveller, let us explain why Abisko is the perfect destination!

Northern Lights Team

I was swimming in the Northern Lights!

All around me the lake shimmered visibly green with the reflected aurora. The only sound in the silence of the night was the gentle splash of my hands as I cut through the water, the reflected aurora undulating on the ripples radiating away from me—I was swimming in the Northern Lights!

RECENT POSTS