City
Seeing the northern lights from Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi sits at 63.7° magnetic latitude, under the auroral oval. On a clear, dark night the northern lights can be overhead even when the Kp index is near zero.
Dark hours by month
Hours each night with the sun at least 12° below the horizon, on the 15th of each month.
The dark-sky season runs from September to March. From May to August the sky never gets fully dark, so aurora is effectively out of sight. Geomagnetic activity also tends to run higher around the March and September equinoxes.
What each storm level means here
The higher the Kp index, the farther the oval spreads toward the equator.
- Kp 9G5 extreme storm: aurora overhead from Rovaniemi
- Kp 7G3 strong storm: aurora overhead from Rovaniemi
- Kp 5G1 minor storm: aurora overhead from Rovaniemi
- Kp 3Unsettled: aurora overhead from Rovaniemi
- Kp 1Quiet: aurora on the horizon from Rovaniemi
Questions about the aurora in Rovaniemi
Can you see the northern lights in Rovaniemi?
Yes. Rovaniemi is under the auroral oval, so aurora is visible on many clear, dark nights during the season, often overhead.
What Kp index do you need to see the aurora in Rovaniemi?
About Kp 0 for aurora on the northern horizon and about Kp 1.4 for aurora overhead. These come from Rovaniemi's magnetic latitude of 63.7°.
Which direction should I look for the aurora in Rovaniemi?
Face north-northwest (339°), toward the magnetic pole. That is where the aurora rises first. In a strong storm it can spread across the whole sky.
What time of night is best for the aurora in Rovaniemi?
Activity often peaks around magnetic midnight, which falls near 11:20 PM local time in Rovaniemi in December. The two hours either side are the best window.
When is aurora season in Rovaniemi?
The dark-sky season runs from September to March. From May to August the sky never gets fully dark, so aurora is effectively out of sight. Geomagnetic activity also tends to run higher around the March and September equinoxes.