Northern lights in Abisko

Sweden. Darkness calculated 24 October 2026 with Astronomy Engine 2.1.19 (MIT licence).

A small village in Swedish Lapland at the edge of Abisko National Park, on the railway line between Kiruna and Narvik. The sky here is dark enough for the aurora from September to March.

Green northern lights rising behind birch trees in a snowy clearing
The northern lights at Abisko, Sweden. Photo: Andrea Ullius from Chur, Schweiz, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Month by month

Pick a month for dark-hour times, Moon dates and what to expect.

Hours of darkness, month by month

Hours with the Sun more than 12° below the horizon, on the 15th of each month
MonthDark hoursAurora possible?
January14.7 hYes, if active and clear
February11.7 hYes, if active and clear
March8 hYes, if active and clear
AprilnoneNo: too light
MaynoneNo: too light
JunenoneNo: too light
JulynoneNo: too light
AugustnoneNo: too light
September5.9 hYes, if active and clear
October10.3 hYes, if active and clear
November13.8 hYes, if active and clear
December15.5 hYes, if active and clear

The darkest weeks ahead

New Moons in the dark season. The week around each one has the least moonlight.

On the ground

There is very little artificial light, and the national park is right next to the village.

Whatever the month, check two forecasts on the day: the aurora forecast from NOAA and the cloud forecast for where you are. How to read the aurora forecast.

Full checklist for choosing a tour.

Other places: Tromsø, Rovaniemi, Reykjavík, Fairbanks, Yellowknife, Inverness. Compare all seven.

Sources