Frequently asked
Is tonight good for stargazing at Hardangervidda?
The live score above pulls today's forecast and runs it through StarCast's scoring model, factoring in cloud cover, moon illumination, Bortle class, humidity, and atmospheric transparency. Above 70 is an excellent night. Below 40, conditions are poor. The score updates daily.
What makes Hardangervidda good for astrophotography?
Hardangervidda is the largest mountain plateau in northern Europe, covering 8,000 square kilometers at an average elevation of 1,100 meters in central Norway. It is home to Europe's largest wild reindeer herd and is almost entirely roadless in its interior. The plateau sits above the fjord-and-valley topography of western Norway, which means it's above most atmospheric moisture and haze on calm nights. Bergen is 150 kilometers to the west and Oslo 250 kilometers to the east: neither produces significant light at the plateau interior. Bortle Class 2 to 3 conditions are typical at the Hardangervidda mountain lodges operated by the Norwegian Trekking Association.
When is the Milky Way visible at Hardangervidda?
The galactic core is visible from March through October. The plateau's high elevation means snow covers much of it until late May, with some years later. The main accessible window is June through September, when mountain huts are open and trails are snowfree. The core is visible in the south during the hours of darkness, which are short in June but lengthen quickly into August and September. Autumn (September through October) is an excellent time: the core is still visible, the reindeer are active, and aurora activity increases as winter approaches.
