What are the Northern Lights?
The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, are a natural light show that lights up polar skies. They occur when charged particles from the Sun travel toward Earth and collide with molecules in our atmosphere. Those collisions release energy in the form of glowing light, creating wavy curtains of green, pink, violet, and red that ripple across the night.
In simple terms: the Sun periodically hurls out streams of charged particles. When these particles meet Earth’s magnetic field, they’re funneled toward the poles and meet atoms high in the atmosphere. The result is a dance of light that has fascinated people for centuries and continues to draw travelers and photographers to cold, dark places.
The science behind the glow
The core color you’ll most often see—green—comes from oxygen atoms at about 60 miles (100 kilometers) above the surface. Other colors arise from different gases and altitudes: red from high-altitude oxygen, blue or purple from nitrogen. The intensity of the aurora varies with solar activity, which follows an approximately 11-year cycle. During peaks, the lights often appear more vivid and widespread, sometimes even during twilight.
Best places and times to view the Aurora
The Northern Lights aren’t limited to one country. They’re most visible in high-latitude regions where the night is long and clear, especially in winter. Popular viewing spots include parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Canada, and Alaska. Your chances improve when you go far from city lights, away from haze and cloud cover, and when the sky is dark for several hours.
To maximize your odds, check aurora forecasts that measure solar wind activity and geomagnetic conditions. A blue or green alert on an aurora forecast usually means good conditions for a sighting that night, while a red alert signals a higher likelihood of strong activity and potentially disruptive geomagnetic storms.
Tips for a memorable experience
- Be patient and prepared. The aurora can appear suddenly and disappear just as quickly. Have warm clothing, snacks, and a chair or blanket.
- Find a dark, open spot away from artificial lights. A simple landscape like a frozen lake or snowy field makes for dramatic reflections.
- Use a camera that can handle long exposures. Bring a sturdy tripod, a wide-angle lens, and a remote shutter if possible. Start with 10- to 20-second exposures and adjust for brightness.
- Plan around the moon. A bright moonlight can wash out the aurora, so aim for new moons or darker nights when possible.
- Stay flexible. The best displays are often fleeting and change shape quickly from curtains to rays or arcs.
While chasing the Northern Lights can be a magical adventure, remember that weather and solar activity drive the show. If you miss a night, there’s always a next trip—each aurora display is unique, offering a different palette, motion, and mood.
A few photography basics
Capture the aurora with a camera that allows manual settings. A narrow aperture (f/2.8–f/4), a moderate ISO (800–3200 depending on light), and long exposures (10–25 seconds) typically work well. Focus on infinity or use live view to achieve sharp stars and curtains while you adjust colors with white balance between 3200K and 4200K for natural greens and blues.
Why the Aurora matters
Beyond its beauty, the aurora is a visible reminder of the Sun-Earth connection and the dynamics of space weather. It’s a living example of how our planet’s magnetic field interacts with solar winds, shaping phenomena that can affect satellites, power grids, and navigation systems. For many, witnessing the Northern Lights is a humbling reminder of our place in a larger cosmic system.
