Northern Lights aka Aurora Borealis in Greenland!

A Quest to See the Northern Lights aka Aurora Borealis

At 10 am daily a flight from Copenhagen(CPH) takeoff for Sisimiut(JHS) after a brief stop in Kangerlussuaq(GOH). So after a night in CPH, we headed over to Sisimiut, Greenland. The second largest city in Greenland to achieve one of the few goals we had control over in 2022. Ensure we are all in the same room for the holidays (we have been apart for four months). Thanks to the all-knowing it was possible!

We arrived a few days before Christmas to avoid unanticipated flight cancellations. As a family we had to achieve one goal, I had another goal in my back pocket, and so did Likki, and Daddy.

(Photo by Steen Olsen)   What we expected to see.

I read the Northern Lights were most visible on the coldest and darkest days. Ummm.. isn't Greenland cold and dark seven months out of the year? So of course, I was hyped to plan my surprise. Forgetting for the last 10 years I have not stayed up for any of the New Year's planned celebrations. I planned and planned, and for some reason, I always end up sleeping. Doesn't matter if we are in our home, traveling, I am knocked out by midnight. As a family, we have our New Year midnight routine, and Likki and Daddy usually seem to hold out to carry it out. 

This Year will be Different!

Northern Lights here we come! The city of Sisimiut celebrates New Year with amazing fireworks, 8 pm for Denmark( due to their history), and midnight for Greenland and the Faroe Island. After a festive lamb, homemade Candy, and wine we were ready to take in the fireworks. We were not disappointed. While Likki and Daddy turned up the tunes, I decided to take a nap and await the clearing of the sky for our drive to see the Northern Lights, after the midnight fireworks.

I woke up to fireworks, but waking me up from a warm bed was impossible. I drifted back to sleep, and once again they celebrated with me under the covers. However, my quest for the Northern Lights was not over. On New Year's Day, we ended up driving outside to the out sketch of town.

Yes! we got to see the lights on New Year's Day, not at midnight but nevertheless. My iPhone did the experience no justice. After several oooooh and aahhhhh, and long silence of observing the abyss of it all we headed back to town. 

What we saw.

What we saw.

As we drove away with our freezing fingers (don't take your gloves to get a good pic when is -20), we got what we wanted on New Year’s Day, Likki got to annoyingly touch Daddy's face (pet peeve #1), and Daddy got to tickle me until I cry out for help, while Likki tried to rescue me from tickle fingers. We drove to our new destination awaiting what the next few months in Greenland behold.  We drove back chatting about the things we hope to experience in Greenland.

You never know when you will see the Northern Lights. However, there is an App to help you track when it is best to see the lights. On the coldest of nights, taking a walk after 10pm has been the ultimate time to see the lights. Due to the vastness of the lights, its beauty disseminates from all angles!  No matter where you are in Sisimiut if you are lucky to look up at the midnight sky on the coldest of nights, you might be captivated by the beauty of colors, lurking.

What do you do when your expectations are not met? Love to hear it. Comment or share your story, check out our contributor's section HERE.