How to See the Northern Lights
The Best Places and Times for Viewing Auroras
You can catch an aurora from your home if you know when to look or increase your odds by going on an aurora tour.
The northern lights are a beautiful, ethereal phenomenon. During major solar events, the aurora can be seen across a large expanse of the globe in both the northern and southern hemisphere.
When to See an Aurora
Auroras can happen at nearly anytime, but there are aurora "seasons" and "cycles". The solar cycle is approximately 11 years long, with solar maximum bringing greater auroral activity. There last solar maximum years were 1980, 1990, and 2001. We are moving toward another solar maximum in about 2012.
Even during times of solar minimum, auroras can and do occur. A large solar flare that erupts from the sun and heads toward Earth will impact with the upper atmosphere. When the solar plasma collides with molecules in our atmosphere they become excited and emit the colors that you see in the sky, from green to blue to red.
Spring and fall, and specifically the months of March, April and September, October bring the largest occurrence of aurora. You can keep track of the sun's activity level at web sites such as spaceweather.com, checking on the number of sunspots and if any flares have recently been ejected from the surface of the sun. NOAA's POES web site is another place to check and see where the current auroral oval is and what the activity level is, with one being lowest and 10 being the highest.
Where to See the Northern or Southern Lights
The Northern and Southern Hemispheres have the same amounts of auroral activity, but those in the north see more aurora simply due to the greater number of people there and more landmass in polar regions. While those in places such as South America and Australia do witness the lights, people in northerly locations such as Alaska, Norway, and Russia see the northern lights on a regular basis.
The northern lights have been seen as far south as Arizona and Florida during major solar events. Keeping a close tab on the auroral oval through the POES maps will let you know when is a good chance to go outside and look.
Another factor important in location is being away from city lights. Light pollution, even if it's just the beaming light of a neighbor's garage, will make it difficult to see the filmy, wispy northern lights. Find a location in the countryside or away from local lights for the best view.
Taking a Trip to See the Aurora
Aurora tours are a popular choice for people who desire to witness the northern or southern lights at least once in their lifetime. Trips to Alaska combine visits to the Alaskan pipeline and Denali National Park with views of the northern lights from outdoor hot tubs. Other travel itineraries to see the northern lights include places such as Canada, Norway, and Iceland, among others. Keep in mind that due to their locations near the Arctic Circle, these trips must be taken during cold weather when it is dark for long hours, as opposed to the warmer months when darkness at night is sometimes nonexistent.
Read about myths behind the northern and southern lights.
