Aurora Borealis

Images taken with my tripod mounted Canon DSLR in Tromso, Norway, 2011

As the prevalence of sunspots comes close to maximum in the current 11 year solar magnetic activity cycle, the Aurora is being seen in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Northumberland and as far south as Norfolk in England.  After Christmas and if the UK remains snow free, Toot and I may venture North to see if we can view the Aurora once more. In January 2011, we had a marvelous time in Tromso and witnessed the Aurora for the first time.  I understand that for my blog readers in Scandinavia, Canada and Russia seeing the Aurora may be rather common place but for us Brits located in the south of our Islands, the experience is a very rare and awesome treat.

Toot and I have visited Norway and Sweden a number of times and  always enjoyed the hospitality and company of our Scandinavian friends and acquaintances. If you have never been, why not book a holiday right now?  Some of our best memories are of: swimming in Oslo Fjord, seeing a Viking longboat, watching golden eagles quartering the land high in the mountains between Norway and Sweden, hearing Elk grunting as we watched them swim across a lake, waiting for hours by a dam to catch a glimpse of a beaver and swimming and canoeing in ice-cold lakes with our then young children.

Then of course, if you visit between the months of September and March, there is always a chance you will see the Aurora in all its glory

For an Aurora taster see:

 http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronomy/auroramax/connect.asp

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora_(astronomy)