When you heard the name Aurora, did the image of a hauntingly beautiful damsel come to your mind? Perhaps the image of the girl of your dreams? Well, this Aurora is not a girl, but before you become disheartened by my not-so-good news; I should add that this Aurora is indeed beautiful, and if you will just muster enough patience to read on, you will be glad that you took the effort to meet her.
Who is Aurora Borealis?
Or to better frame it, what is Aurora Borealis?
Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights are the result of electrically charged particles released from the sun’s atmosphere which collide with gaseous particles in the earth’s atmosphere. The lights are seen above the magnetic poles of the northern and southern hemispheres.
Auroral displays appear in many colours, although pale green and pink are the most common. Shades of red, yellow, green, blue, and violet have also been reported. These variations in colour are due to the type of particles that are colliding.
The lights appear in many form. Further, the lights of the Aurora generally extend from as low as 80 kilometres to as high as 640 kilometres above the earth’s surface.
Where is the Best Place to Watch Auroral Displays?
Northern Lights can be seen in the northern or southern hemisphere. The lights are known as Aurora Borealis in the North (areas that lie above the equator), and Aurora Australis in the South (areas that lie below the equator).
The best places to watch the lights (in North America) are in the Northwestern parts of Canada – particularly the Yukon, Nunavut, Northwest Territories, and Alaska -. Auroral displays can also be seen over the southern tip of Greenland and Iceland, the northern coast of Norway, and over the coastal waters north of Siberia – all of which lie at the extremity of the Northern Hemisphere.
Southern Auroras are not often seen as they are concentrated in a ring around Antarctica and the southern Indian Ocean. Because these parts of the earth are not inhabited by people – it’s all ice and seemingly endless ocean – save for scientists who carry out research in stations on Antarctica.
Areas that are not subject to light pollution – that is, artificial lights as you would see in cities – are the best places to watch for the lights. Areas in the North, in smaller communities, tend to be best.
When is the Best Time to Watch for Auroral Displays?
Researchers have also discovered that Auroral activity is cyclic, peaking roughly every 11 years. Winter in the north is generally a good season to view lights. The long periods of darkness, and the plenitude of clear nights provide many good opportunities to watch Auroral displays. Usually, the best time of night (on clear nights) to watch for Auroral displays is midnight in the local area.
Even though you currently live in a place where they cannot be seen, you do not know where life will take you. Perhaps then, you would be able to take in the beauty of the damsel, Aurora.