Who has not heard of the magnificent northern lights? They’re like a fantastic light show that happens in the sky, mostly up north near the Arctic. So, why does this happen, and why does Earth display this gorgeous light show that has fascinated humanity for so long?
What are the northern lights?
Northern lights happens because the sun sends electrically charged particles (called solar wind) our way, and when they collide with the Earth’s upper atmosphere, the magic occurs!
These collisions make the atoms in the atmosphere super excited, and guess what they do? They throw a glow-in-the-dark rave, lighting up the sky with all sorts of colours! Green and yellow are the obvious hues, but sometimes you get surprise appearances from red and purple as well.
History Behind Northern Lights
Let’s dive into the ancient days when people were busy writing about the magical light shows in the sky! Way back around 977 or 957 BC, the Bamboo Annals in China talked about the first-ever recorded aurora.
Even the famous Greek explorer Pytheas in the 4th century BC shared his aurora encounter. Fast forward to Seneca, who was all poetic about it and gave auroras or northern lights fancy names like ‘barrel-like’ and ‘bearded’.
Then comes Pliny the Elder, who in his Natural History, might have described aurora, as falling red flames and ‘daylight in the night.’ But wait, there’s more! A Cro-Magnon cave painting from a whopping 30,000 BC might just be the earliest artwork of the aurora. Talk about ancient graffiti!
But yes, there is no apt answer as to when it was first mentioned, as many from different parts of the world were equally fascinated by these mystical lights.
What causes the northern lights?
The magical dance of the aurora lights is like a cosmic light show put on by the sun. We know that the sun releases electrically charged particles that embark on a 150-million-kilometre journey through space to reach Earth.
Now, let us picture a total solar eclipse photo, where, in the middle, you’ll spot the Moon, blocking out the sun. Around the edges, you see these streamers called the corona. They’re like the sun’s outer atmosphere, and it seems as if they radiate out. These streamers then become the solar wind, which is a constant flow of gas and charged particles streaming out from the sun.
These speedy particles zip through space until, after a few days, some of them bump into Earth’s magnetic field, the magnetosphere. It’s like a cosmic funnel guiding them around the magnetic poles, creating what we know as the Auroral Ovals.
Here comes the real magic! As these particles crash into oxygen and nitrogen atoms in the Earth’s upper atmosphere, they get them all excited, and voila – the aurora lights up the sky.
When can you see the northern lights?
The Northern Lights travel across the Arctic sky all year, but in Norway, the best time to catch them is from September to March when it gets really dark at night. They might even show up in early spring.
Now, for the perfect viewing time, it’s between 5 pm and 2 am, with twilight being a bonus. Northern Lights expert Dr John Mason says twilight makes the colours pop because our eyes react better to the contrast. As the night gets darker, it’s a bit tougher to see the colours unless the show gets super bright.
But sadly, sometimes the light show is quick, just a few minutes, then poof, gone! But don’t worry, they might pop back up minutes or hours later. Some shows are short and sweet, lasting 15 to 30 minutes, and if you’re super lucky, you might get treated to a jaw-dropping display for a couple of hours or more.
Where can you see the northern lights?
The northern lights, or aurora borealis, are typically visible in high-latitude regions around the Arctic Circle. Some of the best places to see northern lights include,
- Alaska (US)
- Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut (Canada)
- Iceland
- Norway
- Sweden
- Finland
- Siberia (Russia)
- Greenland
- Northern Scotland (UK)
Different Types of Northern Lights
The Northern Lights, a spectacular phenomenon triggered by solar winds and coronal mass ejections, showcase diverse forms and sizes.
Arcs
Description: Long, elegant curves extending from one horizon to the other.
Occurrence: Common during low solar activity. It becomes more dynamic and distorted during heightened solar activity.
Bands
Description: Similar to arcs but with more curves. Its transformation from arcs to bands can happen swiftly, often within minutes.
Corona
Description: Resembles a converging crown overhead, displaying a range of colours like purples, whites, and blues.
Occurrence: Most frequent during periods of intense solar activity.
Diffuse
Description: Rare and shapeless auroras lacking distinct features. It usually requires specialized equipment for visibility.
Rays
Description: Small filaments or streaks formed when thin arcs curl up.
Occurrence: More prevalent during high solar activity periods.
These diverse types of Northern Lights create a mesmerizing celestial display, with each form influenced by the sun’s activity levels.
The Northern Lights, with their dazzling colours, have been captivating people for ages, from ancient records in the Bamboo Annals to the poetic descriptions of Seneca. Fueled by charged particles from the sun, these cosmic lights turn the night sky into a breathtaking canvas of green, yellow, and occasional surprises of red and purple. Whether you’re out in the Arctic or imagining ancient cave paintings, the Northern Lights continue to be a timeless spectacle, a story of wonder that connects us across generations.
