Please find below some information about viewing the Northern Lights in County Donegal. As we approach the Solar Maximum in the next year or so, the Northern Lights should be more active and therefore visible from viewing locations in the County. They truly are one of Nature's wonders and an unforgetable experience. But conditions have to be right to view them. They are not visible on any given night, and cloud cover can ruin an otherwise perfect storm. Please be mindful of your safety and others around you when out viewing. Stay safe, keep warm and enjoy the show.
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 Information from the Space Weather Prediction Center, Boulder, CO,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), US Dept. of Commerce
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The KP Index is a measure (from 0-9) of Geomagnetic activity and is a general indication as to whether the aurora will be visible or not. The higher the KP index the further south the aurora will be seen. To be visible in Donegal a KP index of 5 is a minimum. At this level the aurora will be seen on the Northern horizon. To be visible over head a KP index of 7 is required.
The KP index is an indicative value as to the intensity of a geomagnetic storm. There are other variables such as the direction and intensity of the interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF), speed/density of the solar wind, density of the IMF etc that determine the strength and character of the aurora.
Generally, values to look for to determine whether or not the aurora will be visible: Click www.spaceweather.com to view all values.
- A KP index of 5 or above
- A southerly direction of the IMF
- Solar Wind speed of 600+ km/sec
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 Current direction of IMF (Bz component)
Current Speed of Solar Wind |
 Current Solar X-Ray Status
Current Geomagnetic Activity Status
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The most obvious determining value as to whether or not the Northern Lights will be visible is Cloud Cover. If it's cloudy you may only catch glimpses of the lights through gaps in the cloud.
- As you drive to your viewing location keep your eyes on the road. Do not look at the sky in an attempt to "see" the Northern Lights as you drive. Please pull over at a safe location to do so.
- Remember that a clear winter's night that is suitable for viewing the Northern Lights is also likely to be a cold night. Be aware of the possibility for frost and icy conditions on the roads as you drive to your viewing location. Click here for current road conditions. Click here for current Temperatures.
- Never ever Drink and Drive. Do not travel to a viewing location if you have had a drink at home, or after returning home from having a drink elsewhere.
- The best viewing locations are dark sites away from urban light pollution. Please be careful in the dark. Carry a flashlight. It takes about 20 minutes for your "night vision" to adapt fully to the dark.
- Find a safe spot to park your car. See map for carpark/layby locations with views to the Northern Horizon. Let someone know where you are going and when you expect to be back.
- If you are viewing the Northern Lights from a coastal location, please be aware of tides and current sea conditions. Stay away from Cliff edges.
- Wrap up. Layering is the best way to keep warm with a windproof jacket on top. Don't forget a hat and gloves. Bring a flask of hot tea/coffee if you plan to be out for a few hours. Move about to stay warm.
- Check the weather and space weather forecasts first
- The hours around midnight are the best viewing times
- Choose a dark location with a view of the Northern Horizon
- Urban areas cast an orange glow upwards. More noticable on a photograph.
- Wrap up warm: Layers; Hat & Gloves, Windproof Jacket & Trousers.
- It takes about 20 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the darkness
- Any light source will reset your night vision (mobile phone, car lights, camera LCD)
- Look between the Northeast and Northwest
- First indications of the aurora should be a green glow on the horizon
- As the Aurora develops you may see beams of vertical light within the glow
- If the Activity is strong you may see the classic movement of the Northern Lights
Some tips and techniques on photographing the Northern Lights.
- A digital camera's imaging sensor is more sensitive to the colours of the Aurora than the naked eye. Eventhough you may see only a green glow, the camera will capture a more saturated green image and also capture the red colours. Don't expect to see with the naked eye what you see in photographs.
- A fast wide angle lens. f4.0 min and 35mm max
- As high an ISO on your camera before noise becomes an issue. You'll have to test your camera's performance here and look at the results.
- High ISO will let you use low shutter speeds @ f1.8 -f4.0. The faster the shutter speed the more of the structure of the aurora you'll capture, Other wise anything above 15 seconds will blur the aurora. Stars begin to trail over 30 seconds.
- Take an image, review and adjust speed/ISO accordingly to get the right exposure. Review the histogram.
- Use a tripod or beanbag to keep the camera steady. Use a remote release to avoid camera shake, and set your camera to mirror lockup. (know your Camera's MLU procedure; some require 2 shutter releases)
- Set the white balance to Daylight if you're in a Dark area. Set to Tungsten if there's light pollution. Shooting in RAW will allow you to change these settings in post processing. You may find a Daylight setting will give a yellow look to the image, changing this to Auto might be the correct setting.
- Set lens to manual focus. Know how to manually focus on infinity. It's difficult to do at night in the dark. A headtorch with redlight can help, or the glow from the screen of a mobile phone. Some lenses have distance scales on them, others don't. Use liveview functions to focus, or take an image, review and adjust focus untill you get it right.
- Bring spare batteries and memory cards