what are
the northern lights?
The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, are the result of collisions between gaseous particles in the earth’s atmosphere with charged particles released from the sun. These charged particles are transported to our atmosphere by solar “winds” – the continuous flow of charged particles from the sun into the solar system – and solar flares, which are brief eruptions of high-intensity radiation from the sun’s surface. The variations in the Northern Lights’ color and the intensity of the display are caused by a number of factors – the gases in the atmosphere, the altitudes where certain particles may be found, and even the speed of the solar wind. Typically, when these charged particles collide with oxygen, yellow and green colors are produced. Interactions with nitrogen produce red, violet and occasionally blue colors.
Where is the best place to see the Northern Lights?
The Northern Lights circle the globe in an oval pattern that rings the northern polar regions. If you’re above the Arctic Circle, you have a much better chance of seeing them – and Iceland is one of the best places in the world to view the Northern Lights!
When and How Can I See The Northern Lights?
when AND HOW can I see THE NORTHERN LIGHTS?
WHERE AND HOW CAN I FIND NORTHERN LIGHTS?
Unfortunately, even if you’re in Iceland, there’s still no guarantee that you’ll be able to see the Northern Lights. Viewing the Aurora requires patience and luck, and the following conditions will give you the best chance to view them.
The Northern Lights are most likely to be visible from mid-August to mid-April. During this period, the best time to see them will be from 9:00 PM until 2:00 AM – when the skies over Iceland are at their darkest! Nights with very little or no cloud cover offer the best viewing, so it’s a good idea to check the weather forecast before heading out to view the Northern Lights. Finally, it’s a good idea to check the solar activity with the Aurora Forecast.
If all of the atmospheric conditions are good, you’ll still want to avoid unnatural light, so getting away from Reykjavik or other populated areas is a must. Located 15 minutes outside of Reykjavik, Aurora Basecamp avoids the light pollution that can hinder viewing the Northern Lights. In addition, the Aurora Basecamp’s Dark Park offers low lighting that will help your eyes adjust to nighttime conditions, for optimal viewing. The Northern Lights may appear to have an almost grayish appearance to them. That’s because the human eye doesn’t see colors very well in the dark!
the aurora colors
Even though they might look gray at first, the Northern Lights do come in colors! These colors have a lot to do with the gases that the charged solar particles are interacting with. When those particles collide with oxygen, yellow and green are produced. When the particles collide with nitrogen, red, violet and occasionally blue colors will result. The colors are also affected by altitude. Green is the most common auroral color, and can appear at altitudes of up to 150 miles. Red, the rarest color, appears above 150 miles. Blue can appear at altitudes up to 60 miles, while violet can appear at altitudes over 60 miles.
THE TYPES
Along with differences in colors, the Northern Lights can also take on different forms in the night sky. The most common, and the most familiar to those who may have only seen the Northern Lights in photographs, is the Drapery Aurora. As its name suggests, in this form the Aurora looks like a rippling curtain of light across the sky. The Arc Aurora arches over the sky in the shape of a rainbow. The Corona Aurora looks like a crown of light rays. The Diffuse Aurora is the rarest form; it takes on the appearance of a formless glow, and is hard to spot with the naked eye.