aurora borealis?
Feb 9, 2005 | 5:08 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2004
Programs: united 1p, usair silver, nz gold, hilton gold, starwood gold
Posts: 509
aurora borealis?
We want to see the aurora borealis sometime in March.
Need to fly somewhere where there is mainline AC service rather than code
share with FirstAir etc.
We were thinking of Ft. McMurray. Anyone been there? Any other suggestions?
Need to fly somewhere where there is mainline AC service rather than code
share with FirstAir etc.
We were thinking of Ft. McMurray. Anyone been there? Any other suggestions?
Feb 13, 2005 | 7:58 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Alberta
Programs: Aeroplan, AirMiles
Posts: 1
Fort McMurray
Hi. I'm just replying now because I just found this website. I live in Ft. McMurray... the Aurora Borealis are incredible here. People come from as far away as Japan to see them. Still considering it?
Jan 21, 2007 | 12:19 am
#5
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: somewhere Cl. III / III+, with green waves and friendly holes
Programs: *wood Platinum, HH Gold, OneWorld Emerald, QF GOLD, AP Premium, Mabuhay Elite, bunch o others...
Posts: 584
What a great idea!
How does that work then? I mean, are the northern lights guaranteed? what about weather? etc?
Love to hear more!
Love to hear more!
Jan 23, 2007 | 8:58 pm
#6
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Kyoto, Japan
Programs: NH-PLT, NW-S, AC/UA/US/JL plain, Hertz#1G
Posts: 226
I moved my comment to
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22870
and so far got great comments. Now I am moving forward to YXY*3nights.
AFAIK, AB sightings depends on four factors:
-weather
-full moon
-magnetic field
-solar wind activity
Yellowknife boasts 97% chance of AB sighting if you stay at least three nights there, and I guess the other are around the same, too.
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22870
and so far got great comments. Now I am moving forward to YXY*3nights.
AFAIK, AB sightings depends on four factors:
-weather
-full moon
-magnetic field
-solar wind activity
Yellowknife boasts 97% chance of AB sighting if you stay at least three nights there, and I guess the other are around the same, too.
Jan 25, 2007 | 12:15 pm
#7
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: (not Montana. Nor is my name really Helena, nor am I female)
Programs: Delta, USAirways, Starwood, Priority Club, Marriott, Amex
Posts: 2,557
Any chances of seeing an aurora borealis as far south as Whistler during my ski vacation there?
Jan 25, 2007 | 2:33 pm
#8
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Kyoto, Japan
Programs: NH-PLT, NW-S, AC/UA/US/JL plain, Hertz#1G
Posts: 226
I bet the chance is low in Whistler.
AB can be best viewed at over 60degree in latitude, while Whistler is only 50N. Fort Mcmurray is 56N, and I think that's the southernmost of AB tourist destinations.
If above four conditions are met, and if you could spend midnight hours at places where it's really dark, there may be a chance. Good luck.
AB can be best viewed at over 60degree in latitude, while Whistler is only 50N. Fort Mcmurray is 56N, and I think that's the southernmost of AB tourist destinations.
If above four conditions are met, and if you could spend midnight hours at places where it's really dark, there may be a chance. Good luck.
Jan 25, 2007 | 4:54 pm
#9
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: KIX, ITM, UKB, YVR
Programs: Star Alliance - AC
Posts: 2,356
Jan 25, 2007 | 5:11 pm
#10
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Programs: United MileagePlus Silver, Nexus, Global Entry
Posts: 8,810
>Any chances of seeing an aurora borealis
>as far south as Whistler during my ski vacation there?
I've seen the AB down at fifty degrees of latitude, but it's extremely rare (once every 10 years?)
Cheers,
Geoff Glave
Vancouver, Canada
>as far south as Whistler during my ski vacation there?
I've seen the AB down at fifty degrees of latitude, but it's extremely rare (once every 10 years?)
Cheers,
Geoff Glave
Vancouver, Canada
Feb 27, 2007 | 12:50 am
#11
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Kyoto, Japan
Programs: NH-PLT, NW-S, AC/UA/US/JL plain, Hertz#1G
Posts: 226
Trip report: Whitehorse 2/17-20
moved to AC forum. sorry for misposting.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22870
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22870
Last edited by gura; Feb 27, 2007 at 1:04 am Reason: moved to AC forum
Feb 27, 2007 | 1:05 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: 45 North
Programs: AS Gold 75K, DL GM/MM
Posts: 10,205
I have actually seen a faint glow of the AB at my home in BZN at 45 degrees or so. I have seen it much better in eastern Montana (near 1S3 at 46 degrees) without the city lights. It is more like a green glow towards the north than the streaks seen farther north, but still beautiful to see.