Can you see the northern lights with a full moon?

If you’re planning a northern lights holiday, you want to maximise your chances of seeing the dancing colours of the aurora.

Some travellers believe that a full moon makes it more difficult to see the northern lights. They think that travelling to northern lights destinations during a new moon (when the moon is invisible to the naked eye) increases the likelihood of a sighting.

Here, we explain why the phases of the moon have less impact on aurora sightings than you might think. We also explore other factors that have a greater impact on whether you see the aurora borealis during your northern lights trip.

Can you see the aurora borealis during a full moon?

Yes, absolutely. You can see the aurora borealis during a full moon.

Under a full moon, the Arctic sky glows a deep indigo blue. This softens the contrast between the colours of the aurora and the night sky.

A faint aurora display may be harder to spot in these light conditions. But a strong display will still show up brightly.

Ultimately, if you’re in the right place at the right time, a full moon won’t stop you from witnessing this spectacular natural phenomenon.

Seeing the Northern Lights during a full moon: a unique experience

While you’re less likely to see a faint aurora display, there’s one key advantage to booking a northern lights holiday during a full moon. It creates incredible northern lights photographs.

The full moon illuminates the sky and the beautiful Arctic landscape below. Snow-covered mountains, frozen lakes and snow-laden trees become part of the scene. With the full moon adding depth and detail to the foreground, you get a stunning backdrop for the dancing light show above.

For those hoping to capture the aurora on camera, a full moon can transform your photos into something truly spectacular.

Other factors that affect northern lights visibility

During a full moon, aurora visibility is reduced very slightly. But this impact is minor compared to other factors. The following considerations are much more important when deciding on the best place and best time to see the northern lights.

The season

The northern lights season runs from September to early April. During this time, nights in the northern hemisphere grow longer and darker, which means more hours for the aurora to shine.

You also increase your chances of seeing the aurora if you travel to northern lights destinations around the time of the spring equinox in March or the autumn equinox in September.

At these times, the Earth’s position relative to the sun increases the flow of solar particles into our atmosphere, leading to some of the most intense aurora displays of the year.

Location

The destination you choose also impacts your chances of seeing the aurora. The best places to see the northern lights are close to the North Pole, in or near the Arctic Circle.

This includes all of Iceland and northern areas of Sweden, Finland and Norway. Here, the aurora shines with the greatest frequency and intensity.

The weather

The aurora borealis may be dancing above. But if there are thick clouds in the way, you won’t be able to see it. Cloud cover has a much bigger impact on northern lights visibility than the full moon.

So travel at times when the weather is more likely to be stable. That means avoiding the majority of Swedish and Finnish Lapland during November.

You can also seek out northern lights destinations with microclimates that reduce cloud cover. This includes places like Abisko and the Luleå archipelago in Sweden. Iceland’s glaciers are also an excellent option.

Artificial light

The level of artificial light pollution in the surrounding area is another thing that impacts aurora visibility. While places like Reykjavik, Tromsø and Rovaniemi make a great base for your trip, you improve your chances of seeing the aurora if you escape the bright lights of towns and cities.

That means venturing into the Arctic wilderness, into areas far from light pollution. On an Aurora Nights northern lights holiday, you can embark on aurora excursions, travelling into the countryside each night with your expert aurora guide.

You can also stay at luxurious rural retreats, where you can see the northern lights dancing right outside your door. Destinations like Hotel Ranga in Iceland do everything they can to maximise northern lights visibility, switching off outdoor lights to create the best possible aurora viewing conditions.

Solar activity

The final piece of the puzzle is solar activity. The northern lights occur when solar particles collide with Earth’s atmosphere. The more particles there are, the brighter and more impressive the lightshow.

Solar activity varies from night to night and year to year and this impacts northern lights visibility much more than the phase of the moon. You can keep an eye on the solar forecast to get a sense of how intense solar activity is likely to be on any given night.

But remember: there’s always a little bit of luck involved in seeing the aurora. And that’s what makes the experience of seeing those beautiful lights all the more magical.

Maximise your chances of seeing the northern lights on an Aurora Nights holiday

The Aurora Nights team are northern lights experts. We can advise you on the best times and places to see the aurora borealis, maximising your chances of seeing a spectacular display.

We also plan northern lights trips packed with adventure.

Explore the culture and cuisine of the world’s most northerly cities. Ride a snowmobile across icy tundra. Sail the fjords. Mush a team of huskies.

Then, as night draws in, turn your eyes skywards. Embark on exciting northern lights excursions with your expert aurora guide or — if you prefer — relax in a hot tub as the aurora dances above.

Our northern lights holidays to Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland are tailored to you. So no matter the phase of the moon, we’ll create the aurora experience you’ve been dreaming of.