Looking North! – How to Spot Northern Lights in Äänekoski
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You can admire the lights of the northern sky in Central Finland too. The Northern Lights illuminate the sky in Äänekoski, and you can enjoy them by keeping a few things in mind. Plan the right time and place, check the weather conditions, pack your gear, and remember patience. With these tips, you can enjoy a memorable evening under the starry sky. Northern Lights spotting suits everyone—just turn your gaze toward the northern sky and enjoy the dark-season light phenomena in the night sky.
Aurora Borealis, known in Finnish as revontulet, fascinates travelers all over the world. Northern Lights spotting has also grown in Finland, and in Äänekoski at peak times dozens of people gather in the same place to admire the aurora dancing in the sky. Sini and Pete have captured stunning photos of the northern lights at Äänekoski’s latitude. Below you can read their tips for successful Northern Lights spotting evenings.
This winter is a great opportunity to see the Northern Lights! Around the turn of the year, the Sun’s activity is expected to peak, so now is the time to look to the sky!
Where to start spotting the Northern Lights?
Seeing the Northern Lights isn’t guaranteed, which is why travelers from around the world come to Finland to see them. With good planning, you can increase your chances of witnessing this northern sky phenomenon. Auroras occur from late autumn well into spring, usually in the early night between about 21:00–2:00. On frosty nights the sky is often cloudless, so your chances improve. Dress warmly, pack snacks and a camera, and head to the edge of a field, a lakeshore, or the top of the highest hill /observation tower with an unobstructed northern sky. Don’t be disappointed if you don’t find auroras the first time—the night outing is part of the experience.
Are the indices high today? You can see the Northern Lights when the solar winds are favorable.
Forecasting and capturing the Northern Lights
Sini and Pete joined the Revontulikyttääjät group on Facebook, where there’s almost always an #illanketju. In the thread, people discuss the evening’s chances of seeing auroras, and spotters from all over Finland post observations. There are people from Äänekoski there too, and observations come in real time.The group’s active spotters also helped find rare red auroras!
Sini and Pete also use a couple of apps that make spotting easier. You can set an alert in the app for rises in the KP index. The KP index measures the strength of changes in the magnetic field and ranges from 0–9. If the KP index rises to 5 or above, it may be possible to see auroras even in southern Finland.
Another value to follow is the Ovation model, which is reported in gigawatts. At 20 GW, auroras may already be visible; when the GW value exceeds 100, it’s considered a solar storm. There’s plenty to learn about the curves and charts, and you’ll find information online.
A beginner can manage without studying the graphs and learn to follow how auroras form. You can get started by joining hobbyist groups and using a couple of different apps. These powerful indicators still aren’t enough, as they don’t forecast the weather. You’ll also need a cloudless sky, a good viewing spot, and a bit of luck. Choose a viewing place where light pollution doesn’t reflect into the sky.
One frosty night we climbed the Lepolanvuori lookout tower as the sky blazed in the north. Another night we didn’t see any auroras at all, even though the indices looked especially promising.
A magical night was also experienced in Kovala, when the sky began to dance above our heads!
We carry a headlamp, a camera, and a tripod. A sturdy tripod is essential, whether you shoot with a phone or a camera. It’s worth learning your settings in advance and practicing changing them. There are plenty of guides and videos online about settings and adjustments. Practice makes perfect, and everyone will find the right settings for themselves, regardless of the device. Remember to share your captured aurora photos for others to enjoy by tagging @visit_aanekoski.
Sometimes it’s worth ”forgetting” the camera and just enjoying the outdoors and the skyfire.
Best places for Northern Lights spotting in Äänekoski:
Psst… Please remember to be cautious in winter, as Northern Lights viewing spots are often not maintained in winter.
Kind regards: Sini and Pete
This article was originally published in 2022 and updated in 2024.