Ever gazed up at the night sky and been mesmerized by the dancing lights of the Auroras? The Northern Lights, or Auroras Borealis, are one of nature's most spectacular shows. You've probably seen photos of their colorful displays and wondered what creates this celestial phenomenon. The Northern Lights have fascinated people for centuries, but there are some interesting facts about them you likely didn't know.
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Designed For Beginners
Designed For Beginners
Have you ever seen the Northern Lights shimmering and dancing across the night sky? This spectacular natural phenomenon goes by many names like the Aurora Borealis, Polar Lights or Northern Lights. Here are some interesting facts about this celestial display:
1. The Northern Lights are caused by solar particles interacting with the Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere. When the Sun's charged particles collide with atmospheric gasses like oxygen and nitrogen, they emit colorful lights. The colors you see depend on which gasses the solar particles collide with.
2. You can see the Northern Lights from many places, but they are most frequently spotted near the Arctic and Antarctic circles. Some of the best places are Alaska, northern Canada, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland. Seeing the Auroras is a popular bucket list item for many travelers and photographers.
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3. While Auroras can last for just a few minutes to several hours, the peak viewing usually only lasts around 30 minutes at a time. The lights seem to shimmer, flicker, swirl and sway across the sky, so you have to be quick to capture photos! The good news is that Auroras often reappear if conditions remain right.
4. No, you can’t touch the Northern Lights - they happen high up in the sky. They may seem close enough to touch as they sway and swirl, but they are not physically tangible. They are an optical illusion caused by the collision of charged particles and gasses.
5. The Northern Lights get their name from the Northern Hemisphere, but southern lights, called the Aurora Australis, can also be seen from southern places like New Zealand, Antarctica and parts of South America. Both the Northern and Southern Lights are caused by the same solar activity and mechanism, they are just seen from different locations on the globe.
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Can you really touch or whistle at the Northern Lights? Short answer: No. The Auroras occur far above the ground, typically between 60 to 600 miles up in the atmosphere.
Touching the Lights
The Northern Lights are not physically tangible. They are caused by solar wind colliding with gasses in the atmosphere, exciting the gasses and causing them to emit light. Since the auroras happen so high up, there's no way for us to touch them from the ground. Someday, space tourism may allow visitors to get close enough to experience the auroras up close in space, but for now, we can only gaze up at them in wonder.
There is an old Aurora myth that whistling at the Northern Lights will make them dance or bring evil spirits down to earth and kidnap you or slice even your head off, so be cautious. Unfortunately, that is not the case. The Auroras move and change based on the activity of the solar wind and geomagnetic storms, not due to any sounds we make. Whistling at the lights will not produce any visible effect or change how the Auroras behave. They do not react to sound.
While the Auroras remain out of our reach, their beauty and mystery continue to inspire a sense of awe and make us feel small under their celestial light show. Even though we can’t touch or influence them directly, the Northern Lights remain a wonder of nature and a sight to behold.
The Northern Lights are called “Aurora Borealis”—Aurora referring to the Roman goddess of dawn, and Borealis meaning northern. But why northern? These dazzling light shows are most frequently seen in the northern parts of the world, at latitudes of 60° north and south of the equator.
As you know, the Northern Lights are caused by solar wind—streams of particles from the sun—interacting with gasses in Earth's atmosphere. The solar wind is often concentrated around the magnetic poles of the planet. So, when these particles collide with atmospheric gasses like nitrogen and oxygen, they release photons of light, creating the colorful Auroral displays.
Since the magnetic North Pole is located in the Arctic, the Northern Lights tend to be most visible in northern areas of the globe like Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Finland. In the southern hemisphere, the Southern Lights—Aurora Australis—are often seen in places like New Zealand, southern Australia, and Antarctica. Folks living in more equatorial regions typically don’t get a chance to witness these celestial wonders.
The visibility of the Northern Lights depends on the level of solar activity and geomagnetic storms. When the Sun is most active, especially around the equinoxes in March and September, dazzling shows are more likely. Some of the most stunning displays happen when major solar storms release huge bursts of particles that collide with Earth’s magnetic field. These geomagnetic storms amp up the intensity and frequency of Auroras that can sometimes even be seen at lower latitudes.
So while the Northern Lights aren’t exclusively visible in the Northern Hemisphere, their concentration around the magnetic North Pole is what gives them their name. For the best chance of catching a glimpse of these ethereal lights dancing across the sky, head north—and don’t forget to bring your camera!
Seeing the Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, is a dazzling experience, but you have to be in the right place at the right time. The auroras are caused by solar wind interacting with the Earth's magnetic field, so they are often visible in areas near the Arctic and Antarctic circles. But how often can you actually see this spectacular light show?
To view the Northern Lights, you need a clear, dark sky away from city lights. The Aurora is often most active around midnight, so the later and darker it is, the better. The Auroras are also more frequent and vibrant around the equinoxes in March and September.
During peak activity, the lights may dance across the sky for hours and be visible multiple nights in a row. But on average, the Aurora is only visible about 3 nights out of every 4. Some nights the solar wind activity is too low to produce a visible Aurora.
The Aurora can appear without warning and may only last a few minutes. It's a good idea to spend multiple nights in an optimal viewing location to increase your chances of spotting them.
Certain years, known as solar maximums, tend to have higher solar activity and more frequent Auroral displays. The last solar maximum was around 2014, so activity has declined since then. But the next solar maximum is predicted for the mid-2020s, so sightings may increase again over the next few years.
The Aurora is often most active around midnight, so the later and darker it is, the better. The Auroras are also more frequent and vibrant around the equinoxes in March and September.
While the Aurora Borealis can be seen on any clear night in the right locations, catching a spectacular display requires patience, persistence, and a little bit of luck. But when those colorful lights do dance across the sky, it will be a sight you will never forget.
To truly experience the wonder of the Northern Lights, here are some tips to maximize your viewing:
Find a dark location away from city lights.
The Aurora is best viewed in areas with little to no light pollution. Head to a secluded area in the countryside, a national park, or wilderness. The farther from city lights the better.
Check the forecast and notifications.
Aurora activity fluctuates, so monitor the forecast to know the likelihood of an active display each night. Sign up for Aurora alerts and notifications to get updates on short notice. Be ready to head out at a moment’s notice for the best shows.
Dress warmly and bring extra layers.
You’ll be outside at night, likely in a remote area, so prepare for very cold temperatures. Thermal undergarments, insulated pants, winter jacket, hat, gloves, and thick socks are must-haves. Bring blankets, sleeping bags, hand warmers, and a thermos with a hot drink.
Find a spot with a wide view of the sky.
Position yourself so you have an unobstructed view in all directions. Lie down on your back or in a reclining chair to get the full dome view of the sky. Use a reclining chair, ground pad, or sleeping bag for comfort. Finding the best Northern Lights place is the key.
Be patient and give your eyes time to adjust.
Don’t look at bright lights before viewing or your night vision will be ruined. Dim your flashlight or use a red light. It can take up to 30 minutes for your eyes to fully adjust to the dark. The longer you’re outside, the more details and colors you’ll notice in the aurora.
With the right conditions and preparation, you’ll be rewarded with a dazzling display of the Northern Lights dancing across the sky. An unforgettable experience you’ll cherish for years to come!
So there you have it, you learned some truly incredible things about the majestic Northern Lights that you never knew before. Nature continues to amaze us in so many ways, and the Aurora Borealis is one of the most stunning natural phenomena we are so fortunate to witness. The next time you’re outside at night and see those colorful lights dancing across the sky, you can impress your friends with all these fascinating facts. But most of all, just enjoy the show - let yourself be dazzled by the beauty of those swirling lights as they put on a spectacular display. A perfect ending to an unforgettable experience you’ll cherish for years to come.
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