Unique opportunity to see the Northern Lights this weekend in our country: this is the best way to observe spectacular weather phenomena

Can you really see the Northern Lights in our country this weekend?

“Yes, it is indeed possible that we can observe the light spectacle in the coming nights,” weatherman Frank Deboosere agrees. Solar flares are the breeding ground for what we know as Northern Lights. The phenomenon occurs when solar wind particles enter our atmosphere and collide with oxygen atoms in the air.

There are currently an extra number of sunspots, which indicates increased activity of the sun, where strong explosions have taken place in recent days. “You can even see those sunspots with the naked eye, if you look with special aids. But don’t do that, on pain of blindness, and certainly not with binoculars,” the weatherman warns.

What should you do then?

Anyone who wants to see the sky turn green, purple and red will have to make some effort. Simply looking out the window in your living room doesn’t work. It is best to go to a dark place, with as little light pollution as possible. The darker the better. Your eyes also need to get used to the darkness.

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“It can easily take five minutes to open your pupils as much as possible so that you can take in weak light,” says Deboosere. “Belgium is an illuminated country, so there are few places where you can see the Milky Way, for example. To observe the Northern Lights, you will have to be far away from the city, so somewhere in the countryside with a clear view of the northern horizon.”

Are the weather gods kind to us?

“Yes, certainly,” says the weatherman. “We expect broad clearances, but the air is still a bit humid, so there is still a bit of mist in the air. We are also lucky with the small crescent moon, because the light of a full moon could be very disturbing.”

“We are also lucky with the small crescent moon, because the light of a full moon could be very disturbing”

Frank Deboosere

Weatherman

For weatherman and northern lights specialist Ruben Weytjens, it will be a few short nights. “I have Len (with whom he tied the knot on Wednesday, ed.) We have already been warned that we will spend the first nights of our marriage in a field somewhere,” laughs the new husband, who considers himself lucky that he has not yet gone on his honeymoon. “I really wouldn’t have wanted to miss this.”

(Read more below the photo)

“I wouldn’t leave my wedding night for it,” laughs Deboosere. “But there is a chance that I will get up during the night and take a look. To the extent that that is possible, because I live in a city, but it would of course be a shame if it were really serious and I would lose sleep over it.”

When are you most likely to witness the phenomenon?

There is a chance of northern lights on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. “Saturday has the best credentials,” says Weytjens. It is impossible to predict exactly what time you should look north. “As soon as it gets dark enough – from about 10:30 p.m. – it can be pricey.”

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However, he does not dare to give any guarantees. “On paper it looks promising. I’ve been chasing the Northern Lights for twenty years now, but never before have I seen such a strong array of solar flares. This has the potential to rival 2003, when we were treated to beautiful aurora borealis.”

What do the Northern Lights look like?

You need patience to see those typical green and red colors in the sky with the naked eye. The heaviest activity comes in waves of five or ten minutes. “With a bit of luck, we will even see those typical dancing curtains this time,” says Weytjens.

If you don’t see anything right away, you can use the camera on your smartphone. In night mode it will detect the northern lights faster. The most beautiful photos are taken with system and SLR cameras on a tripod. “The chance that you will find images online of people who have photographed the Northern Lights is a lot greater than the chance that people will also observe the phenomenon themselves with the naked eye,” says Deboosere. “It usually looks much nicer in photos and you can see all those colors. In reality it is often less spectacular than in a photo.”

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