Northern lights Leknes tonight

Unstad is on the north coast of Vestvågøy, known primarily as a surf beach but equally useful as an aurora position. The beach faces north-northwest over the open Norwegian Sea with no land between it and the Arctic. Bortle Class 1-2. The beach is backed by steep valley walls which block any residual light from Leknes or Stamsund. At night the position is fully dark with a wide northern horizon over the sea. Access requires a drive across Vestvågøy on the Fv815 and then a single-track valley road to the coast. The road is sealed but narrow - take care in winter with oncoming vehicles. Parking at the beach. This is the darkest easily accessible position in the Leknes area.

Eggum is a small village on the north coast of Vestvågøy with a lighthouse and a sculpture park along the cliff path. The headland positions give an open Arctic Ocean horizon facing north and northwest. Bortle Class 1-2. The area is less visited than Haukland and Utakleiv beaches and tends to be quieter at night. The cliff path north of the village gives elevated positions above sea level with views along the coast and out to sea. A practical dark sky position for those based in Leknes who want to avoid the more popular beach car parks.

Haukland and Utakleiv are adjacent beaches on the northwest coast of Vestvågøy, connected by a short cliff path. Both face north over the open sea. Bortle Class 2 from the beach. Haukland is accessible directly from the road; Utakleiv requires a short walk around the headland. The beaches have become popular with photographers for their combination of white sand and mountain backdrop - the Vestvågøy peaks rise directly behind. In winter the car park at Haukland is ploughed and accessible. Both positions give a Kp 2 aurora clearly above the dark northern horizon.