Why Are the Northern Lights Green? Unlocking the Mystery

Ever wonder why the Northern Lights shimmer in vibrant greens across the night sky? The science behind the Aurora Borealis is actually pretty fascinating. As charged particles from the sun collide with gasses in our atmosphere, the energy from these impacts gets released as light. The greenish tint comes from oxygen molecules glowing at a wavelength of 557.7 nanometers. While green is the most common hue, the Northern Lights can also appear in shades of red, blue, violet, and yellow depending on which atmospheric gasses are involved.

The best views of Aurora come far away from city lights where the sky is the darkest. A clear night without a bright moon is ideal for spotting the colorful display. The good news is you don’t need fancy camera equipment to capture the beauty of the Northern Lights. With a few adjustments to your smartphone camera settings, you can snap stunning photos of the Aurora dancing overhead. So next time the Northern Lights are out in full force, get away from the lights of town, tilt your head skyward, and enjoy the natural wonder of one of the world’s greatest shows.

How to Increase Your Chances of Seeing the Northern Lights?

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Why the Northern Lights Appear Green: It's All About Oxygen

Have you ever wondered why the Northern Lights always seem to glow green? The color comes from oxygen molecules in the atmosphere. When particles from the sun collide with oxygen and nitrogen molecules, they energize and emit light. Green is the most common color we see because our eyes are most sensitive to the particular wavelength of green light that oxygen produces.

The Northern Lights often appear green, but can also glow red, blue, purple, pink, and yellow at times. The specific color depends on which atoms are hit and what wavelength of light they emit. The more solar activity, the more intense and vibrant the display can be.

To experience the full show, it's best to view the Northern Lights away from city lights and light pollution. Out in the wilderness, an unobstructed view of the sky will allow you to see the lights dancing and shimmering. You may even catch glimpses of red and blue at the edges of the green glow.

With a little practice and the right settings, you can capture the Northern Lights on your phone. For the best shots, use a manual mode so you can adjust the ISO, aperture, and shutter speed. Set the ISO high, around 800 to 3200, open the aperture wide, and use a long shutter speed of 5 to 30 seconds. A tripod will help keep your phone steady. With an iPhone or Android, you can get some amazing Aurora photos to share on social media or with friends and family.

The Northern Lights remain a spectacular natural wonder and mystery. By understanding the science behind the green glow and learning a few photography tips, you'll be well on your way to enjoying an unforgettable experience with Mother Nature's dazzling light show.

Other Colors of the Northern Lights

The Northern Lights aren’t always green - they can glow in a variety of colors across the sky. The Aurora’s color depends on which gasses in the atmosphere are being excited by the solar wind.

•Oxygen produces green and red auroras. The bright green lights are the most common, created when oxygen is excited at lower altitudes in the atmosphere. Red Auroras happen at higher altitudes.

•Nitrogen causes blue or purplish-red Auroras. These colors are less common and tend to be more visible at the edges of the Auroral display.

•Rarely, Auroras can appear more yellowish, almost creamy in color. This is due to molecular nitrogen reacting with the solar wind at a very high altitude.

To see the full range of Auroral colors, you’ll want to find an extremely dark location away from city lights. The human eye needs about 20 minutes in darkness to fully adapt, so give yourself time to adjust to the night. A camera, especially a DSLR, can capture more color than the naked eye alone. With a high ISO, wide aperture and exposure of 5 to 15 seconds, you can photograph the Northern Lights with a smartphone and reveal colors you may have missed.

The Northern Lights are a celestial wonder unlike any other. Chase the colors for a truly magical experience you’ll remember for years to come.

How the Northern Lights Work: A Magical Display of Physics

The Science Behind the Magic

The Northern Lights are caused by electrically charged particles from the sun interacting with gasses in our atmosphere. When the sun is active, it releases particles known as coronal mass ejections that travel to Earth. These particles collide with oxygen and nitrogen atoms in our upper atmosphere, about 60 to 600 miles up. The energy from these collisions is released as light, which we see as the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights).

Why Green?

The most common color we observe is greenish-yellow. This is because oxygen atoms produce green and red light when excited, and our eyes are more sensitive to the green wavelengths. Sometimes you may spot rare displays of red, blue, pink or purple lights dancing across the sky as well, depending on which gasses are interacting with the solar particles.

Escape the Light Pollution

To experience the full, awe-inspiring grandeur of the Northern Lights, get as far away from city lights as possible. Head to a remote, open area without much light pollution - the brightness of the city obscures the visibility of the Aurora. National parks and wilderness areas are ideal for viewing the celestial spectacle in all its glory.

Capturing the Magic with Your Phone

With some patience and the right techniques, you can capture the Northern Lights with a smartphone. Use a high ISO setting, wide aperture, and longer exposure to let in more light. A tripod or place to stabilize your phone is also essential to prevent blurring. Focus on composing an interesting foreground like trees, mountains or a lake to make your photos more compelling. Bracketing your shots at different exposures will increase your chances of getting a perfect photo of the Lights reflecting on the landscape.

While the science behind the Auroras is complex, appreciating their beauty is simple. Bask in the wonder of this natural phenomenon and enjoy the magic of the Northern Lights.

Why Darkness Is Best: Viewing the Northern Lights Away From Light Pollution

Get Away From the Lights

To see the Northern Lights in all their glory, you need to get away from light pollution—the farther the better. City lights, streetlights, and other artificial light sources will overpower the Auroras and make them difficult to see, even on the clearest nights.

Head to a dark sky park or a remote rural area as far away from any towns or cities as possible. The farther you get from light pollution, the more visible and vibrant the lights will become. Some of the best spots are in northern Canada, Alaska, Iceland, and Scandinavia. If you can’t travel that far, try to find an open space in a nearby rural area, like a large open field, mountain, or lake.

Turn off all lights in and around where you're viewing the sky, including porch lights, flashlights, and the lights inside your car.
Give your eyes about 20 minutes to adjust to the darkness so you can see the lights most clearly.
A moonless or new moon night is best, as the bright moonlight can also interfere with Aurora's visibility.
Dress warmly, as you'll be outside at night for a long time. Thermal undergarments, insulated pants, coat, hat, gloves, and boots are must-haves.

You may be able to capture the Northern Lights on your smartphone, but a DSLR camera with manual settings will give you much better results. Use a high ISO, wide aperture, and long exposure—at least 10 to 15 seconds. A tripod is essential to keep the camera still. Experiment with different settings to achieve the best shots. With some practice, you'll be taking photos of the colorful Auroras dancing across the night sky in no time!

By escaping the city lights and giving your eyes time to adjust to the darkness, you'll have the best chance of spotting the Northern Lights in all their glory. Be patient, get comfortable, and enjoy one of nature's most spectacular shows.

Capturing the Northern Lights With Your Smartphone: Yes, It Can Be Done!

You Can Capture the Northern Lights With Your Smartphone

Believe it or not, you don’t need an expensive DSLR camera to photograph the Aurora Borealis. With some patience and the right techniques, you can capture the colorful lights with just your smartphone. Here are some tips to help you get the perfect shot:

-Get away from the city and any bright lights. The darker the sky, the better your photos will turn out. Head to a secluded area in the countryside to avoid light pollution.

-Use a tripod or stabilizer. Since the Northern Lights can appear dim at first, you’ll need to keep your camera still for long exposure shots. A tripod or phone stabilizer mount will help prevent blurry photos.

-Increase your ISO. The higher the ISO, the more sensitive your camera is to light. Bump up your ISO to around 800 to 3200 to capture the luminous greens and reds of the Aurora.

-Take both landscape and portrait shots. Capture the grand scale of the Northern Lights with a landscape shot, then turn your phone vertically for a dramatic portrait shot. Both angles can make for stunning photos.

-Don’t stop at just green. While green is the most common color of the Aurora, you may also spot red, yellow, blue or violet lights dancing in the sky. Be on the lookout for these colorful displays and capture them when you can.

-If you are not a Pro night sky photographer - don't worry, there is still a way. Did you know that you can take a photo of the Northern Lights with your smartphone (both Android and iPhone) using just a Night Mode camera setting? Yes, it's the easiest way. The results will not be as magnificent as when the camera's Pro mode is used and all values are set manually but you will be able to capture the Northern Lights without any night-sky-photography skills.

With an eye for detail and patience, you'll be snapping magazine-worthy photos of the Northern Lights with your smartphone in no time. So bundle up, find a secluded spot, and get ready for a dazzling display of color in the night sky.

Northern Lights Online Tools: Chasing Aurora Like a Pro

The most useful Northern Lights online tools for a successful Aurora hunt. Are you about to hunt the Northern Lights on your own? Then you will find these resources helpful. If you are trying to see Aurora for the first time we recommend signing up for the Northern Lights Online Course where is explained step-by-step all you need to know to see the Northern Lights in an easy way.

Northern Lights essential online tools designed for beginners to help you see Aurora like the handy Aurora Mobile App and Northern Lights Online Course will help you to understand how Aurora works and to monitor real-time activity.
The Northern Lights Forecast for 3 days and long-term Aurora forecast for up to 27 days ahead can be found here: Geophysical Institute Forecast, NOAA Aurora Forecast, Spaceweatherlive Forecast or in the Northern Lights App.
Find the best Aurora spots with the light pollution map and cloud cover prediction.
Northern Lights activity in real-time: Real-time Aurora activity (worldwide magnetometers), Solar Wind activity, Sun's activity, Aurora live Boreal webcams list or Aurora App.
Additional resources to know when it will be dark enough Darkness graph & Map and how much the moon will illuminate the sky Moon Phase + Moonrise & Moonset.
If you decide to go with professional Aurora hunters here you can find the top-rated Aurora Tours.

Conclusion

So there you have it - the magical mystery behind the green glow of the Northern Lights unlocked. Now that you know the science of how the Aurora Borealis works, you can fully appreciate the wonder of this natural phenomenon. Next time the night sky lights up with ribbons of emerald, you'll understand the complex interplay of particles and gasses that create the colorful display. You'll know why escaping from light pollution helps reveal the Aurora's full glory. And you'll be ready to capture your own photos of the Northern Lights dancing through the stars with nothing more than your trusty smartphone. Knowledge is power, and in this case, it's the power to see one of nature's most stunning events with new eyes.

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