Northern lights are a famous and stunning display of glowing light across the sky, attracting a large amount of humankind. Every second person wants to witness the northern lights at least once. In the North, these lights are known as Aurora Borealis; Meanwhile, in South, these are known as Aurora Australis. These Southern and Northern lights have fascinated the people for several centuries, and people still include this extraordinary place in their dream list. However, one question constantly swirls in our mind is – What causes Northern lights? And Why are the Northern Lights Sometimes colored differently? So here we are to answer all your questions in detail.
| Name | Northern Lights |
| Occurrence | Auroral Zone |
| Wavelength | 558 nanometers |
| Distance | 60 – 400 Miles above the earth |
| No. of colors | Green, Pink, Red, Blue, Purple, Yellow, White |
| Height of Aurora | 300 – 400 Km |
What are the Northern Lights?
Northern Lights are a light show that can be visible in the night sky, and they are caused by the charged particles from the sun when they collide with the Earth’s upper atmosphere layer. When these tiny particles collide, they flash light in the night sky. The light of different colors can be seen in the sky due to flashes such as green, pink, blue, and violet. However, the Green color broadly covers the sky during Northern lights, which comes from Oxygen atoms. Northern Lights can be seen from 11 PM to 2 AM from September to March. Moreover, you can encounter the Northern Lights in various regions of the North Pole, such as Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Russia.
Why are there different Northern Lights colors?
As mentioned above, most of the Northern Lights are green; but you can encounter some pink, blue, violet, white, and red in the night sky. However, you must be considering why most of the Aurora Borealis are green. So, there are two main reasons for this situation. The first one is that green is the most captivating color and can be detected by the human eye more quickly than other colors. That is also one of the primary reasons we see different colors in photos, which are usually not visible through bare eyes. The factor that determines the color of the Aurora Borealis is the collision of the atmosphere with solar particles. The various colors of Aurora Borealis are displayed due to the different gasses induced at different altitudes, and when this collision occurs, we can watch a bundle of rays.
1) Red
Red is the least apparent color in the Northern Lights, and this is caused due to intense solar activity. Red in the Northern Lights can only appear when Oxygen reacts with Solar particles at a high altitude of approximately 150 Miles. This happens because, at this height, Oxygen is less concentrated at the wavelength that makes the red color visible.
2) Pink
As much as the appearance of Red is occasional, likewise, Yellow and Pink are also less frequently seen in the Northern Lights. They occur due to high solar activity and are a mixture of Green with blue or Red with Green.
3) Green
Green is the most visible Color in the NColourn Lights, which occurs when solar particles collide with a favorable altitude of 60 – 150 miles in the presence of a high concentration of Oxygen. When Oxygen is stimulated at this level of Altitude, it defines shades of Green. Subsequently, it is linked with the human ability to detect this color, making it the most influenced and persistent Auroral color.
4) Blue
Blue, Purple, and Violet are other less frequently occurring Auroral colors that occur when the solar activity is at its peak. However, the blue color appears from the collision of the atmosphere at 60 miles or below the level. This happens because, at this level, the nitrogen gas reacts with the Aurora and displays a tinge of blue or purple. Usually, these colors are not visible, but when they occur, they can be seen in the lower parts of the display.
What is the best place to see the Northern Light?
Have you ever imagined being at a place where you can encounter the best view of Northern Lights? Then this natural prodigy can be seen in the Northern Hemisphere, which is located in the Arctic Circle. However, some of the best places to see the Northern Lights are Canada, North America, Scandinavia, America, and Iceland. Each place serves the best view, making one feel surreal about their surroundings. The best chance for seeing Northern Lights is during winter when nights are longer, and the environment is smoggy.
Northern Light FAQs
Is pink Northern light rare?
Yes, Pink Colour is rare comparatively to Green as it requires some special conditions, which is why it is less common than Green color. Despite the color of the pink, you can still encounter a faint pink hue sometimes.
Can we touch Northern Light?
No, Northern Light cannot be touched as it occurs in the sky. Due to their constant swirling nature, These lights might seem unnatural, but they are the condition that is caused by the strike of gasses with charged particles.
Do the Northern Lights make noise?
Though there is no compulsory voice in the Northern Lights, some people have heard faint crackling and wheezing sounds audible to the Human ear.
Do Auroras have a smell?
Some observers have observed a vague smell of Ozone during the intense Display of lights. However, some believe that the smell of the aurora resembles the scent of a storm.
Can you see the Northern lights with the naked eye?
Certain factors affect the visibility of the Northern Lights, one of which is Geographic Location. The closer you are to the Northern Pole, the better your chances of seeing the Northern Lights. Saariselka serves the best view of the Light display.
