The Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, is a spectacular and colorful light show commonly seen in the night sky in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere the Aurora is known as the Southern Lights, or Aurora Australis. The Northern Lights and Southern Lights are either auroras or polar lights because they both occur near the Earth’s magnetic poles. The sun emits charged particles (electrons and protons) into space, called the solar wind. The magnetic field of the earth forms an invisible shield that redirects the solar wind around our planet.
Since the magnetic field of the earth protects us from the solar wind, the magnetic field lines are dragged and stretched. They bounce off like rubber bands, hurling charged particles along magnetic field lines toward the Earth’s surface. The aurora occurs when these charged particles, fired along the Earth’s magnetic field, collide with gasses in Earth’s upper atmosphere. These collisions create tiny bolts of lightning that fill the sky with colorful light that acts like a neon lamp or an old cathode ray tube television. As billions of eruptions occur, the auroras appear to move or “dance” across the sky.
How to see the northern lights?
First of all, it is important to understand that there is no magic formula for observing the Northern Lights. But certain factors, combined with a spark of luck, will increase your chances of success in your quest. When planning a trip to see the Northern Lights, you need to answer four important questions: where can you see them, when is the best time to see them, how long should you drive, and how can you increase your chances of seeing the Northern Lights? Remember, to see the Northern Lights you need the right time, place, weather conditions, and a lot of patience and luck. Here are some important tips to remember if you want to experience this natural phenomenon:
1) Choosing the right location
The Aurora can only be seen near the poles – in the south, the Antarctic Circle, or in the north, the Arctic Circle – due to the interaction of the Earth’s magnetic field in these locations. The lights above the Arctic Circle are called the aurora borealis, and those above the southern circle are called the aurora australis.
To see the aurora borealis or australis with the naked eye, you need a clear night sky. If the sun is still lifted or there is a cloud cover, it will not be visible. In addition, rural areas are better compared to cities because they do not suffer as much light pollution.
The intensity of the light you see depends on local solar activity — the acceleration of solar particles as they collide with Earth’s atmosphere — which means there’s no guarantee you’ll see those dancing lights we love so much in these cool videos. Anytime is a great chance to meet them.
2) Timing Your Trip
Your chances of seeing the Northern Lights are best in winter, from October to April, when the night skies are darker and the daylight hours are shorter. The colors of the Aurora are hard to see during the day, so you need to wait until it’s dark to see them.
Winter in Northern Europe, especially from December to February, means long, dark nights. In fact, in certain parts of the far north, the sun never rise at all, a phenomenon known as “polar night”. The longer the hours of darkness, the greater your chances of seeing the Northern Lights.
In Iceland, you can pass through the natural ice cave and see the dramatic glowing landscape of frost. In addition, winter is a quieter trip season than in the summer, so you can visit from October to April to reduce the number of attractions than the crowd.
3) Checking the Weather and Solar Activity
The sky must be dark and cloudless to see the Northern Lights. The chances of seeing the Northern Lights are virtually zero when it is raining or snowing because the sky is covered with clouds. We recommend that you monitor the weather where you are (or are going) at the time, because the Northern Lights can be very localized. Therefore, you may not see them in your location, while they may be visible a few kilometers away. Climate change does not affect the behavior of the northern lights, but it can affect their visibility. Increased humidity in the atmosphere can lead to increased cloud cover, which could make it harder to see the northern lights from the Earth’s surface. Clear skies are essential for seeing the northern lights, so climate-related changes that lead to cloudier evenings can reduce the chances of seeing them. Solar activity is responsible for northern lights frequency and intensity. While solar activity is not directly related to climate change, understanding and predicting these solar events is essential for predicting the northern lights.
Good news for all the night owls; the best time to see the Northern Lights is usually between 9 pm and 2 am.
4) Check forecast for auroras
In addition to keeping an eye on the evening sky, there are a lot of different apps that provide aurora forecasts, which use the KP index, a measure of geomagnetic activity, to make the predictions. The higher your KP, the higher your chances of seeing the Northern Lights at low latitudes. For example, if the location you’re visiting is in normal visibility when your KP is 3, you can still get lucky and go there even if your KP is 2. My favorite aurora forecast apps are Aurora Now, Aurora Fcst and My Aurora Forecast. But be careful, the forecasts can be wrong. Don’t miss the aurora show.
5) Avoiding Light Pollution
If the geomagnetic activity is high, even the large light of the city cannot prevent the brightest part of the aurora in the sky. However, strong light pollution creates light in the sky. This glow washes out the dim areas and reduces the bright colors and details of the aurora. Your best bet is to choose a location with relatively little light pollution. Use the light pollution map to find areas with sufficiently dark skies (green, blue or gray areas on the map).
6) Population distribution matters
Over time, urbanization has increased, and the United Nations estimates that by 2030, about 60% of the world’s population will be urban. Iceland is no exception. In fact, its population distribution generally corresponds to the global picture. According to the latest data from Statistics Iceland, 63% of the population, or 239,733 people, live in the capital region (the contiguous residential area from Hafnarfjörður to Mosfellsbaer). All light, whether from natural sources or human activity, obscures the night sky to a greater or lesser extent. Artificial light sources can make it difficult to see the Northern Lights by temporarily blinding you with their brightness, but the good news is that it’s not impossible to see the Aurora, even if you’re standing in a city under a full moon. If you can find a place where you get out of direct light, for example, using the building to protect you from the light source, it can facilitate the situation, especially if the northern lights are especially intense. Move between different places until you find somewhere suitable, and let your eyes adapt to darkness again.
7) Be patient and flexible
Weather and aurora activity can be unpredictable, so be prepared to adjust your plans to stay longer or change positions. Bring warm clothes, snacks, and activities to keep the little ones occupied while you wait for the light show. To see and photograph the Northern Lights you’ll need to spend most of the night outdoors, where you’ll need to be prepared for at least -10 °C. The Northern Lights can be seen in the Arctic in winter, so be prepared for extreme cold.
8) Capturing the Northern Lights
Look up and look for reflections and unique objects to find different perspectives. Focus on matching the glow to your subject. Surround the subject you are concentrated and try to find a creative angle. Aurora is the best way to compose subjects because it works very well as a peak line. Remember, Aurora photography is an art and the key to taking good Aurora photos is experimentation and practice, so make sure your camera is ready to capture the magic of the Aurora Borealis, but also make sure you take the time to enjoy this breathtaking sight.
Conclusion
The fascinating dance of the Aurora Borealis has its origin from solar particles and the magnetic field of Earth. Amazing interplay of charged particles and atmospheric gasses in the Earth’s upper atmosphere produces one of the most spectacular spectacles in nature, captivating observers around the world with the magic of the Aurora Borealis.
