Mysterious blue light shines over Norway

by Katie Hammel on

On December 9th, residents of northern Norway were surprised to see a weird blue light shining above. According to reports, the beam of light seemed to point to the sky from behind a mountain. As the light began moving in circles, forming a spiral, a brighter beam came out of the center. The phenomenon lasted for about 12 minutes.

After the light disappeared, the Norwegian Meteorological Institute was inundated with calls from people asking about what they had seen. Almost as quickly, people began speculating about what the light could have been from. Air traffic controllers who saw the light said it lasted too long to be astronomical, and it is not believed to be connected to the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights.

Another conjecture was that the light came from Russian missile testing in the White Sea but the Russian Navy has denied any such testing. Experts say that if the missile exploded, the leaking jet fuel could create the odd pattern. Of course, there are some who have a few more far fetched ideas. Black hole, UFO, astronomical event or man-made light show – we many never know what really caused the odd light pattern.

Photo of the Day (2.7.09)

by Brenda Yun on


I’ve been to Alaska twice and not once did I see the northern lights. Maybe it was the wrong season or maybe I wasn’t looking hard enough, but I’m sure when I do see them (and I will) I won’t forget the sight.

That’s what one of our dedicated and intrepid adventuring photographers, localsurfer, discovered on a trip to Norway four years ago. He writes, “It’s impossible to really take a picture of what the lights look like. This was like a pulsing river of light from horizon to horizon.”

The eerie green color reflecting off the water and the purple-brown night sky are nature’s way of saying what human words cannot.

If you have some great travel shots you’d like to share, be sure to upload them to the Gadling pool on Flickr. We might just pick one as our Photo of the Day!

The most amazing bed-time view in Finland

by Tom Johansmeyer on

The Hotel Kakslauttanen is in Saariselka, Finland, a small town in the far north of this already northern country. From your guestroom, you can turn off the lights and take in the aurora borealis from your bed. This, quite simply, is an experience you won’t find anything else.

Glass igloos take the place of traditional guestrooms at the Hotel Katslauttanen. A small room, encased in transparency, comes with a small bedroom, and the main attraction is above. There are 20 of these spaces in the hotel built by Jussi Eiramo, designed specifically to take in the Northern Lights.

If you plan to soak in the arctic sky up in Saariselka, remember that there isn’t a lot of sunlight every year. In fact, January brings four hours of dusk, and that’s about it. Some guests have trouble finding their igloos, which would be comical if not for the cold. The management is ready for this challenge, offering flashlights to guests that overshoot their rooms.

A night will set you back $370, but you need to plan for some time in a traditional space, as well. The igloos have great views, but lack showers.

[Via NY Times]

Photo of the Day (11/06/08)

by Kent Wien on

Fiznatty does it again with today’s Photo of the Day. This shot, taken in northern Sweden, just screams winter, doesn’t it? He used a 25 second exposure and ‘painted’ the bath house with a flashlight while the shutter was open.

I like how the northern lights shoot upward above the house, almost as if the heat from the bath house generated the glow. Having grown up in Alaska, I’ve seen this kind of view a number of times, but I can’t think of a better place than Sweden to really experience the aurora borealis.

Nice job, Fiznatty!

Are you a Flickr user who’d like to share a travel related picture or two for our consideration? Submit it to Gadling’s Flickr group right now! We just might use it for our Photo of the Day!

See the Northern Lights

by Erik Olsen on

Neil posted a few times here about the Northern Lights, and what an exhilarating experience it can be. I confess that seeing, photographing them is an item high on my personal life list. Yet, despite almost five years of living in Seattle and numerous trip to Canada (ski trips to Whistler mostly), I’ve still never laid eyes on this amazing natural spectacle.

But I could, if I was willing to fork over the cashola to haul my arse up North. Just haven’t done it yet. But part of me think that to finally do the Northern Lights I should to it in style. And that is why I found this trip so appealing. First of all, you head to Iceland, a fascinating country rich in culture and natural beauty. Second, and equally important, you make the trip with Sky & Telescope magazine editor Paul Deans who, presumably, will be on hand to answer all your silly questions (what makes the sky glow like that? Magic fairies? Why don’t the lights make a sound?)

So check it out and let us know if you take this trip or any other to see the lights.