Aurora borealis in Mid' september

[ravski06]

Hi everyone,
I hope this is the right place to ask my question.
Im Planning to arrive with my wife to Lapland (to Harriniva, muonio) between 10-12, september - 2013.
we are really excited to have to option to see the north lights and we know w'ill be very dissapointed to miss it.
I read about it a little and i understand that September is pretty much good month to see the lights, is it true? we want to stay about 2-3 nights, so what is the chances we have?
Also, i understand i need to take a flight from helsinki to Kittila, but i can't find and shuttle service (nor website or just E-Mail) which will take me to the area of my hotel in Muonio.
I wil aprriciate VERY VERY much any the help and any advise since we don't want to miss the chance to visit finland and lapland especially!!
Thanks

Ravski

[Karhunkoski]

http://wikitravel.org/en/Northern_Lights

[jahasjahas]

The Finnish Meteorological Institute: Auroras Now!

Let's look at their statistics page: http://aurora.fmi.fi/public_service/eng ... stics.html

According to the data there, the best month for seeing the aurora north of the Arctic Circle is January: statistically, 17% of the yearly aurora nights are in January. For September, the percentage is 7-8%. (Note that the red line in Figure 1 should obviously read "Aurora from South-Finland to the Arctic Circle", not "Aurora from South-Finland to the Arctic Ocean".)

You'll never know whether you're going to see the aurora or not, so hopefully you can enjoy your trip even if you don't.

As for getting there, check out Kittilä Airports's site: http://www.finavia.fi/airports/airport_ ... pg=1091673

"Connections from the airport to Muonio, Olos, Jeris and Pallas are organised as shuttle service, and reservations are required at least a day before. For reservations and enquiries, contact +358 200 14919."

[riku2]

Both the spring and autumn equinoxes are good (21 March, 21 Sept). But the northern lights come and go even within the space on an hour. Main thing is to get away from city/town lights. I see them often and i'm only 40km north of Helsinki.

[Pursuivant]

And it depends if theres a clear night or if its the "3 months of cloud"... you can get the alerts as SMS I think.

[Tolvajärvi]

You probably been and gone already? How was your aurora show?

FYI for accurate short term (couple of days) aurora probability, you can use this: http://www.aurora-service.eu/aurora-forecast/