Each appearance of the northern lights is unique — flickering curtains, rolling smoke, or a sudden corona explosion that makes you question reality. The best time to see them is between September and March, when the Arctic night provides a dark canvas. Tromsø sits right in the middle of the aurora zone, making it one of the finest places on Earth to witness this phenomenon.
The aurora borealis is caused by charged particles from the sun colliding with gases in Earth's atmosphere. The characteristic green colour comes from oxygen atoms at around 100km altitude; red aurora occurs at higher altitudes, while nitrogen produces purple and blue hues.
Tromsø's location at 69°N places it directly under the auroral oval — the ring-shaped zone around the magnetic North Pole where aurora activity is most frequent. On clear nights during the season, northern lights are visible on approximately two out of three evenings.
Viewing the aurora from a yacht is a special experience. Far from the light pollution of towns and cities, anchored in a dark fjord, the display stretches from horizon to horizon. The reflection in the calm water doubles the spectacle, and the absolute silence makes it feel almost supernatural.
Photography tips: Use a tripod, set your ISO to 1600-3200, aperture to the widest available (f/2.8 or wider), and exposure time to 5-15 seconds. Manual focus set to infinity is essential. Modern smartphones with night mode can also capture surprisingly good aurora images.
The best aurora forecasts combine solar wind data with local weather forecasts. Our crew monitors both and will wake you if a strong display occurs during the night. Some of the most spectacular auroras happen after midnight, when the magnetic field is optimally aligned.