Aurora · Arctic gear · The far north
Plan a northern lights trip that works
When the aurora reaches Tromsø, Lapland, Iceland, Fairbanks or the Yukon, what to wear when it's -30°C and you're standing still for hours, and how to photograph it. Every figure is sourced and linked.
A northern lights trip, in four steps
Most first trips go wrong on one of these: the wrong month, too few nights, the wrong boots, or a camera left on auto.
When and where
- The Northern Lights Forecast for Alaska and How to Read It
- The Northern Lights Forecast for Fairbanks, Alaska
- Best Aurora Forecast Apps 2026
- The Autumn Equinox Just Opened This Year's Best Aurora Window
- Tromso and Alta Are Bracing for a Record Northern Lights Season, Here's How to Book It Without Getting Burned
- Aurora from hereThe Kp your place needs, with darkness and the moon
What to wear
Photograph it
- Northern Lights Phone Settings for iPhone and Android
- Aurora Photography for Beginners
- Northern Lights Camera Settings Explained
- Best Gloves for Northern Lights Photography
- Best Lenses for Northern Lights Photography
- Best Tripod for Northern Lights Photography
- Aurora camera settingsShutter, ISO and aperture for your camera and lens
Stay safe in the cold
The aurora night kit
Aurora watching is hours of standing still at -10°C to -30°C. These are the picks from our gear guides, each chosen on published tests and ratings.
Best Gloves for Northern Lights Photography
Our pick: The Heat Company Heat 3 Smart Pro
Best Hand Warmers for Northern Lights Nights
Our pick: Grabber hand warmers
Merino vs Synthetic Base Layers for Arctic Cold
Our pick: Smartwool Classic Thermal Merino
Heated Jackets Are Worth It If You're Standing Still for Aurora This Season
Our pick: Milwaukee M12 Heated Axis
Best Arctic Sleeping Bags for -20°F to -40°F in 2026
Our pick: Marmot CWM -40
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Tools for the trip
Free, in your browser, built on NOAA, Environment Canada and the US Naval Observatory's figures.
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