What Are The Northern Lights?

The Northern Lights, also known as the aurora borealis, are a natural light display caused by the emission of solar particles that have been trapped in the earth’s magnetic field. They are visible in the northern latitudes (specifically, the Arctic and Antarctic regions), but can be seen as far south as New York and even Florida on rare occasions. The lights are most commonly seen in the sky above the Arctic Circle, and they are made up of different colors like green, pink, purple, and blue.

What Causes The Northern Lights?

The Northern Lights are caused by collisions between electrically charged particles from the sun that enter the earth’s atmosphere. These particles interact with gases in the atmosphere, such as oxygen and nitrogen. When the particles collide with the gases, they create an ionization process that causes the gases to release energy in the form of light. This is why the Northern Lights look like a colorful sheet of light in the night sky.

The Best Time To See The Northern Lights

The best time to view the northern lights is usually during late autumn and winter when the nights are longer, as the lights are difficult to see in the summer months due to the sun’s rays interfering. It’s also important to choose the right spot. Areas with low light pollution, away from the city and in areas with minimal cloud cover are the best places to try and spot the Northern Lights. It’s also an advantage to book a trip to destinations like Alaska, northern Canada, Iceland, and Norway where they’re more likely to be seen. The best times of the year to view the Northern Lights are September, October, March and April.

The Northern Lights are a truly beautiful and mysterious spectacle, and witnessing them in person never fails to leave an ever-lasting impression. For anyone wanting to experience this natural phenomenon firsthand, there is nothing quite like the right spot, the right time, and the right atmosphere.