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In Search of the Northern Lights with Fred. Olsen Cruises and Go Stargazing

In Search of the Northern Lights with Fred. Olsen Cruises and Go Stargazing

Thursday 10th October 2024 to Sunday 20th October 2024

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Departing from Newcastle Cruise Terminal
Port of Tyne, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, NE29 6EE

Prepare for an extraordinary cruise adventure meticulously crafted by our team, designed to immerse you in the enchanting allure of northern Norway’s Northern Lights season. This voyage is a celebration of nature’s most captivating performance, set against the backdrop of Arctic wonders.

As the Northern Lights cast their ethereal dance across the Arctic skies, you’ll be in the perfect position to witness this mesmerising phenomenon. From the comfort of Balmoral and during an extended stay in Alta, the magic of the dancing lights will (hopefully!) unfold before your eyes, leaving you spellbound by their beauty.

This cruise is more than a journey; it’s a symphony of nature, culture, and wonder. Join us as we navigate the waters of northern Norway during the Northern Lights season, and let the magic of this extraordinary voyage create memories that will shine as brightly as the dancing lights themselves.

On this Northern Lights Cruise, you’ll be joined by an experienced astronomer from Go Stargazing for guided night sky tours under light pollution-free skies as part of Fred. Olsen’s Sky at Sea signature experience.

Stargazing highlights for this cruise
  • Explore the night skies on deck with an astronomer from Go Stargazing.
  • Learn how our ancestors interpreted the sky with a laser-guided tour of the constellations.
  • Given the current high activity of the Sun (close to the ‘solar maximum’), it’s the best time to see the Northern Lights for several years. Displays may be intense and bright, especially if the skies are cloud-free!
  • We should notice that the stars in the northern part of the sky get higher up as we cruise north – by observing the famous pole star (which would be directly overhead at the north pole), we can work out our latitude!
  • Saturn will be visible as soon as darkness falls and through the night. Binoculars may allow viewing some of the planet’s Moons and famous ring system. On 14th October, Saturn will be joined in the sky by a gibbous moon resulting in a spectacular conjunction.
  • On 19th October, the Moon will pass close by the “Pleiades” open star cluster, which will look stunning in binoculars.
  • Mars and Jupiter will shine bright and can be observed rising from the East later in the evening. See the Moons of Jupiter using binoculars and watch how they change position in relation to the giant planet during the cruise.
  • A pattern of stars called the Summer Triangle will be prominent throughout the cruise; our astronomer will gladly guide you around this patch of sky rich with deep sky objects observable using binoculars.
  • View the most distant object that can be seen with just your eyes — the Andromeda Galaxy. Our astronomer will show you how to find it using binoculars, a trick you can take home!
  • Shooting stars or meteors are always a possibility if the sky is clear!

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