One of the most magical visual events in nature is Northern Lights. Initially considered a mystery, it has been determined that the cause of an aurora is charged particles in space combining with the atmosphere on Earth.
There are various myths related to Northern lights that still people believe but the increasing technological advancements has revealed the facts behind the magical process. Here we are going to discuss and debunk the northern light myths and share the actual facts.
Northern Lights are a Mystical Beauty
Of course, we already know why northern lights manifest. But don’t we believe that before we realized the science, our predecessors had a very hard time to interpret what they would be seeing?
Indigenous people tried to make meaning of what they saw so northern lights have been paired with many myths and legends in the whole world.
- The northern lights are a crucial part of Norse mythology
According to Norse myth, the lights were said to be the glints from the Valkyrie’s shield and armour. These female warriors would decide which of the slain would be allowed into Valhalla. As part of Norse traditions, these ribbons of light, pulsing green in colour, also served as an archway into Valhalla.
- Chinese dragon legends are associated with northern lights
It is not very often to see the lights of China because of the latitude. This means that each time the big solar event occurred and caused a sighting in China, it was huge in effect.
These weak displays of lights are considered to be an indication of the fight between good and evil dragons, which is said to be associated with some of the ancient Chinese dragon legends.
- Some Europeans believed this aurora was a sign that war was coming
Not everyone made a connection between the lights and the good or the gods, however. For example, it is also noted that, only weeks before the French Revolution, the skies “blazed red” in the British Isles.
The French and Italians considered the lights as bad omens, a terrible sign of doom or war. Take care of your health if you see the lights!
- To start with, Japanese culture associates the aurora with luck
There is even fertility in the aurora stories! For instance, according to Japanese folklore, a child born during an aurora show would be blessed with intelligence, good looks, and good fortune.
Science of northern lights
The science behind the lights is just as fascinating as the myths and legends surrounding them. So let’s take a closer look at what is now known about why this fabulous display of lights happens.
- An aurora is actually a bending of the earth’s magnetic field
Earth’s magnetic field is distorted as a result of solar wind penetrating the planet. A portion of the charged particles enters near the two magnetic poles, whereas most are repelled away.
The energy is released in the form of photons by this collision of charged particles with gases in our atmosphere.
- Northern lights arise approximately 100 km above the earth
You could almost reach out and touch the lights when viewing an intensively strong display. It’s really quite high in Earth’s atmosphere, though.
How high? “They can be found much farther up,” but usually it’s at a distance ranging from 90 to 130 kilometers above ground level. UiT in Norway End.
- Northern lights are only observable at night but can occur at any time
The Northern Lights may appear at any time of day, whereas most believe, and our eyes, as a matter of fact, need darkness in order to be able to see it.
This also means that seeing lights is not optimal in the nights after a full moon. And explains why, for having greater probabilities of seeing it you have to avoid brightly illuminated locations.
- Lights appear in an oval-shaped band around the poles
Recall those charged particles penetrating our atmosphere near the poles? Predictive software represents something that looks oval-shaped around the poles, the way an event of northern lights is commonly seen from space.
The auroral oval is stationary relative to the sun but expands as the charged particles penetrate farther into the atmosphere from the poles, with greater strength at greater distances.
- Captain James Cook named the ‘aurora australis’
Similar phenomena in the southern hemisphere were given the term “Australis australis” after an expedition led by Captain James Cook on Resolution, Antarctic (1772-75). “Australis” is Latin for “southern”.
Conclusion
There’s nothing that’s ever lost to wonder and inspiration, not when it comes to this magnificent spectacle of the collision between solar particles and the magnetic field of Earth. In our ability to tell fantasy from reality, we see this cosmic dance to be quite real. An experience which will thrill you is watching them from more southerly latitudes, or indeed planning a trip into the Arctic Circle. Remember the complicated interaction between charged particles, magnetic fields, and Earth’s atmosphere when you look at a twinkling night sky.
