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Northern Lights
Unquestionably, the Northern Lights or what’s also known as aurora borealis in Alaska is one of nature’s most extraordinary and stunning wonder. In a winter scenery of ice, old rocky mountains, stormy seas, darkness and calm weathered flora, the Northern Lights is a celestial touch, floating and, teasing, which gracefully dance in an innately brilliant green color that’s beyond description.
Facts about Northern Lights
The Northern Lights come from the sun’s surface. Following storms on the surface of the sun, the charged particles are tossed into the outer space. Some of them end up in the magnetic field of the Earth in the direction of the Magnetic North Pole and convene with the Earth in a round belt around it.
At approximately 100 km over the surface of the Earth, the particles come into contact with the atmosphere’s outmost part. Then, the energy is released in a process similar to that which takes place in a light tube. This becomes noticeable on the Earth’s facade as moving, glistening light.
Northern Lights Colors
Most of the Northern Lights outbursts are green. However, we may also notice shades of white or pink around the borders every now and then. An even more unusual episode is seeing violet in the middle. Moreover, it can at times have blue-green shades or close to a combination of yellow and green on other instances. Red Northern Lights are enormously uncommon. But, this does happen once the Northern Lights break out at a lower or higher height than usual.
Where to See the Northern Lights
In favorable conditions, this incredible panorama lights up the heavens above the sub-Arctic and Arctic regions whenever there are solar storms, and are habitually seen in high latitude northern countries which makes places like Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden ideal spots for good viewing. The less likely you’re going to see Northern Lights if you go farther south, with the mid-air display observable at the equator once every century or two.
When to See the Northern Lights
These pointers may help you make your mind up when to make your journey to see the Northern Lights.
- Northern Lights are most active either early in the morning or late in the evening.
- Northern Lights are most intense from December up to March. This is the time when evenings are longer, the sky is clearer as well as darker. Also, this is the coldest season of the year, which can reach as cold as -40 F.
- Northern Lights are more brilliant during new moon.
There are a lot of people who fall under the northern lights’ spell merely by seeing pictures or hearing stories from their friends or loved ones. There are also many who might have caught a momentary peek, which creates the yearning to further pursue seeing them. Even for those people who are fortunate enough to have seen the splendid lights, once is truly not enough to see them! Undeniably, the charm of the Northern Lights is indeed irresistible.
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