News from NASA – the Solar Maximum Finally Flips – The Aurora Zone

July 4, 2014 - PRLog -- Don’t worry; it sounds dramatic, but this is a natural, recurring phenomenon and totally harmless! The flip in polarity heralds the peak of Solar Cycle 24 and signifies the mid-point in this particular Solar Maximum (the period when the Northern Lights are historically at their most frequent and spectacular).

Basically, what the experts are saying is that half of the Solar Maximum is behind us but the other half, very possibly the better half, still lies ahead.

Two of the NOAA/NASA* Solar Cycle Prediction Panel’s leading panellists believe that the current solar cycle will start to decline in 2015, but note that their own research suggests that major solar flares and noteworthy geomagnetic activity normally occur as a solar cycle declines.

The midnight sun in Scandinavia means that the Northern Lights won’t be visible until late August and early September. So when is the best time to go?

Alistair McLean, MD of Northern Lights specialist The Aurora Zone, makes the following suggestion:

“If you are keen to avoid the cold, then autumn is a tantalising proposition. You’ll be travelling as close to the Solar Maximum as possible so, statistically, there should be an excellent chance of seeing the Aurora. The solar cycle will begin to decline, but NOAA/NASA’s analysis of past cycles suggests that this is often when the greatest solar activity occurs.

“The coming autumn/winter of 2014/2015 could represent the best opportunity to see the Lights until the peak of Solar Cycle 25, which will occur in approximately 11 years’ time.

“Are you really prepared to wait that long to tick off this key bucket-list dream?”

To talk to an expert, call The Aurora Zone on 01670 785 012 or, for a full list of Northern Lights itineraries, go to http://www.theaurorazone.com

ENDS – 3 July 2014

Notes to editors:

*NOAA (http://www.noaa.gov/about-noaa.html) is the USA’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NASA is the USA’s National Aeronautics and Space Administration (http://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/what_does_nasa_do.html).

The Aurora Zone is the only dedicated Northern Lights holiday company and was created to highlight the innovative concept of Aurora-hunting (actively going out to seek the lights rather than remaining in one location) and to promote the fact that the current seasons offer the best opportunity to see the Northern Lights in a decade or more.

Press: For more information, quotes – MD Alistair McLean is available for interview and comment - high-res photography or to discuss press trips, please contact Lisa Farrell at Travel PR (http://www.travelpr.co.uk/) on 020 8891 4440 or l.farrell@travelpr.co.uk.