The Northern Lights, those glowing green lights appear on a clear night, dancing across the sky in a fascinating, incredible display. Nothing compares with the emotion of seeing an aurora sweep across the sky for the first time. The cold no longer matters; we forget hunger and every other need. No matter how late it is, we stay as long as this magical dance lasts.
What are the Northern Lights? How do they form?
The Sun plays the leading role in the aurora, though its effects appear at night. It continually emits particles that travel through space as the solar wind. This flow, mainly electrons and protons, varies with solar activity, explosions and flares. Approaching Earth, the particles are attracted and guided by its magnetic field, mainly towards the poles. On colliding with the magnetosphere The solar wind interacts with atoms and molecules, changing their state. As they become excited and then return to equilibrium, they release energy at wavelengths visible to the human eye. The luminescence they occur in the upper layers of the atmosphere, at a height of about 95 kilometers.
Where can you see the northern lights?
The observation of auroras occurs in latitudes close to the poles of planet Earth, that is, near the Arctic and the Antarctica. They are the so-called auroral ovals, circles around the magnetic poles. In the northern hemisphere this area extends through the countries of Canada, Greenland, Iceland, northern Norway, Sweden and Finland on the Scandinavian peninsula and Siberia.
When we talk about auroras in the northern hemisphere we call them The northern lights, while in the southern hemisphere they are called the southern lights.
When can I see the Northern Lights?
Since auroras are powered by the Sun, seeing them depends on solar activity. The time of year and night also matter. The best times for Northern Lights are around the equinoxes in March and September, with a greater chance after midnight.
With milder temperatures, February and March are the best time to see the Northern Lights local partner in Finland
Meteorology, climate science, astronomy and atmospheric research continue to advance. Better technology, computing power and big data have led to public services that forecast the appearance of The northern lights. Below you can consult some of them.Can you predict the northern lights?
Northern Lights forecast services:
- Northern lights forecast for Norway
- Northern lights forecast for Iceland
- Forecast of Northern Lights in Europe
- Northern lights forecast for Alaska
- Mobile apps with northern lights alerts and forecasts
Pictures of the northern lights
Want to travel to see the northern lights?
In Viajes Tuareg we have different options and routes for astronomy lovers I'm sure you'll be interested. And they take you to the desired ones The northern lights.
> 5-day multi-activity and astronomy trip
> Departures during February and March
On foot, on snowshoes and by snowmobile, we explore the great Lake Inari (Inarijärvi in Finnish). Five days in Finnish Lapland, one of the best places to observe the northern lights, staying in a comfortable hotel.
Lake Inari lies in northern Lapland, north of the Arctic Circle, and is frozen from November to June. It is a privileged place to see the ghostly Northern Lights.
Silence, the vivid colours of the boreal forest and the northern lights will accompany us on our journey.