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The Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis): What is it, what causes it, and where can you see it?

 


The dancing lights that make up the aurora are the result of collisions between electrically charged particles from the sun entering the Earth’s atmosphere. These lights can be seen above the Earth’s north and south magnetic poles.

These lights appear in several colors. Light green and pink are the most common. But it also appears in red, yellow, green, blue, and violet. It also manifests itself in many forms, as it sometimes appears as isolated clouds of light, and sometimes takes the form of banners, arcs, and other phases appear in the form of undulating curtains, and sometimes it lights up the sky with a strange glow as a background for a picture.


What causes the aurora borealis phenomenon?

Dr Mason states that all auroral activity is caused by electrically charged particles coming into the atmosphere at very high speed, colliding with the particles of air high above the ground. Color differences aredue to the type of gas particles that the charged particles collide with. The most common color: a pale yellowish-green is produced by oxygen molecules located 60 miles above Earth. While fiery red auroras are produced entirely by oxygen at high altitudes, about 200 miles away. Nitrogen molecules emit blue or red-purple twilights.

 


The phases of the aurora borealis

·        First: These protons and electrons are liberated as a result of collisions between solar gas molecules, as the surface temperature of the Sun, which reaches millions of degrees, allows for frequent and explosive collisions with high energies.

·        Second: The rotation of the Sun helps these liberated electrons and protons escape from the Sun’s gravity, and the energy they gain from the collision helps them to do so.

·        Third: These charged particles reach the Earth through the solar wind.

  • ·        Fourth: The Earth’s magnetic field — which is weaker than it is at the poles — works to deflect these particles and scatter them. But some of them enter the Earth’s atmosphere and collide with atmospheric particles. These collisions emit the light we call the aurora borealis in the north and south.


What are the best places to see the Northern Lights?

1.      Tromso, Norway. Based in the heart of the aurora zone in the Norwegian Arctic, the city is widely regarded as one of the world's best places to see the Northern Lights. ...

2.      Swedish Lapland. ...

3.      Reykjavik, Iceland. ...

4.      Rovaniemi, Finnish Lapland. ...

5.      Ilulissat, Greenland. ...

6.      Svalbard, Norway.

When is the best time to watch the aurora borealis?


The researchers also discovered that the aurora borealis is cyclical, peaking approximately every 11 years. Winter in the North is usually a good season for spotting the lights. The long nights and clear skies provide many good opportunities to see the twilights. Usually, the best time is the local midnight when the sky is clear.

 

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