Experts predict that 2026 will be a peak year for aurora spotting, offering the best viewing opportunities in over a decade. Wil Cheung, a photographer who has witnessed the Northern Lights more than 400 times, shares his tips for witnessing the phenomenon.
Cheung, based in Northumberland, runs stargazing and aurora-chasing events at locations including The National Space Centre and Northumberland National Park, as well as guided Northern Lights cruises to Norway. He first saw the aurora in March 2015 in Iceland, an experience he describes as 'mesmerising' and 'hooked' him.
For the best chances of seeing the lights, Cheung recommends locations such as Norway, Finland, northern Sweden, Greenland, northern Iceland, Canada and Alaska. He highlights Akureyri in northern Iceland as particularly favourable due to its weather and aurora conditions, and suggests cruises as an effective way to avoid clouds and light pollution.
Cheung advises aurora hunters to pack functional clothing, including layers, waterproofs and a heated gilet, and to use light pollution maps to find dark skies. The best time to view the aurora is when there is no moon, and he suggests booking trips at short notice to check weather forecasts.
One of Cheung's most emotional aurora memories is from Sycamore Gap in Hexham, where he captured a bright aurora display just 17 days before the famous tree was felled in September 2023.
