Innovation Norway has launched a new mobile app that predicts and informs users about the possibility of experiencing Northern Lights across the Arctic sky.
The free app is available for both iOS and Android platforms.
According to scientists, 2013 was said to be a record year for the Northern Lights. Now, researchers predict the winter season of 2014/2015 to be another good year for spotting the northern lights.
Director of tourism in Norway, Per-Arne Tuftin, inevitably claims that Arctic Norway is the best place in the world to see the northern lights.
As a result, the DMO has created the Norway Lights mobile app for nine Norwegian cities: Alta, Andoya, Bodo, Harstad, Kirkenes, Lakselv, Narvik, The Lofoten islands and Tromso.
For each of these cities, the app also displays details from Wikipedia, Wikitravel, hotels to stay, information on getting there, and maps.
A bright northern light icon indicates a high activity of northern light. And, a faded northern light icon indicates a low activity.
The size and number of clouds indicate the how cloudy the sky is.
Also, the app gives three recommendations to experience northern lights: GO, TRY, and WAIT.
Below screen grab shows the northern light forecast for Kirkenes on December 4th. At 6 pm, the app recommends the user to try looking for the lights as it is less cloudy (notice the cloud size). However, from 7 - 11 pm the sky is cloudy and the app recommends the user to wait.
Below screen grab shows the visibility indicator for norther light in the city of Andoya.