Northern lights Mehamn tonight

The headland at Mehamn gives an open Barents Sea horizon to the north and northeast. Mehamn is a small fishing village with minimal light pollution outside the working harbour area. Bortle Class 2 from the headland positions away from the quay lights. At Kp 1, aurora appears above the dark northern horizon over the Barents Sea - at 71°N magnetic latitude this is among the lowest Kp levels needed anywhere on the Norwegian mainland. The headland is exposed and cold in winter; wind chill at the coast can be severe when winds come off the Barents Sea. Suitable clothing is essential. The harbour itself has working lights that affect the immediate surroundings, so the headland 200-300 m to the northwest gives cleaner sky.

Slettnes is the northernmost point of the European mainland accessible by road, and the site of the Slettnes Lighthouse (1905). The lighthouse sits on a flat, treeless headland at 71°N with the Barents Sea on three sides. Bortle Class 1-2. There is zero settlement light pollution at the headland - the nearest village is Gamvik, 3 km to the west. The aurora is frequently visible in multiple directions simultaneously from this position given the 270° open sea horizon. The road from Mehamn is sealed but narrow and may be icy in winter. The landscape is flat tundra - there is no elevated terrain to block any part of the sky. This is one of the most northerly drive-to aurora positions in mainland Norway.

Gamvik is a small village 3 km west of Slettnes Lighthouse, on the Barents Sea coast. The shore at Gamvik faces north over open water. Bortle Class 2. A useful intermediate stop between Mehamn and Slettnes for those who want a quick dark sky position without driving the full distance to the lighthouse. The village has a small guesthouse and is the nearest settlement to Slettnes. In winter, the Gamvik coast road is ploughed and accessible. From the shore, aurora appears above the dark water to the north with the flat Finnmark tundra behind.