Learn
Short guides to understand, plan and photograph the northern lights.
- 5 min read
What is the aurora and what causes it?
Solar wind, Earth's magnetic field and the upper atmosphere: where the colours come from, north versus south, and why the aurora is harmless.
- 6 min read
The Kp index and G scale: what the numbers mean
The 0–9 Kp scale, NOAA's G1–G5 storm levels, how far south the oval reaches, and why Kp alone is not enough.
- 6 min read
How many nights? Planning an aurora trip
Number of nights, moon phase, equinox months, cloud climate and tour choice: the decisions that actually improve your odds.
- 5 min read
Photographing the aurora with a phone or camera
Night mode, tripod, exposure, ISO and focus: practical settings for phones and cameras, and why the camera sees colour your eye misses.
- 6 min read
How our forecast score works
The formula behind the 0–100 visibility score, what each factor means, confidence levels, the limiting factor and our data sources.
- 6 min read
Cold-weather safety and respectful aurora hunting
Frostbite, icy roads, not stopping on the road, private land, batteries and respect for Sámi land: practical rules for a safe, respectful night.