Described as one of Earth's most awe-inspiring sights, the aurora borealis is capable of turning the night sky into a kaleidoscope of colours, from stunning greens and pastel blues to sharp reds and piercing yellows. To witness the beauty of the Northern Lights is to take in one of the world's most spectacular sights. Rest assured that there is no comparison between seeing wonderful photographs and actually being there yourself. It's no surprise that people will travel for thousands of miles to get close to the Earth's poles in the hope of seeing these strange, haunting lights in the night sky.
What is it?
The spectacle is caused by highly-charged electrons that have been released by the sun. These solar winds of charged particles head towards the Earth's atmosphere at speeds approaching one million miles per hour and finally come into contact with our magnetosphere – effectively a giant bubble created by the earth's magnetic fields.
Why so many different colours?
Once the charged particles have entered the atmosphere they will come into contact with atoms of nitrogen and oxygen. If a particle hits an atom of oxygen 150 miles or more above the Earth's surface it will create a red light, and a green one below this height. If it hits a nitrogen atom at 60 miles or more it will glow purple, or blue if the distance is less than 60 miles.
Where do I head for?
One of the things that makes the aurora borealis so special is the fact that it can only be seen in certain parts of the northern hemisphere that are, in general, not that easy to reach. Added to that, there's the issue of having conditions that are suitable. Certain areas are known for getting spectacular views of the aurora borealis however. Fairbanks, Alaska, is one such place, along with the Canadian towns of Whitehorse and Yellowknife. Alternatively, northern Scandinavia offers impressive viewing opportunities. You might want to head for Norway, and cruise close to the Svartisen Glacier and the towns of Andalsnes and Sortland.
Watch out for the clouds!
No one likes a cloudy sky, and if there is one thing that is going to scupper your chances of seeing the aurora borealis in all its magical glory, it is thick cloud. Ideally, choose a destination that is blessed with the clearest skies. Continental locations in Russia, Alaska and western Canada that have a reputation for clear skies, will be clearest around the time of the spring equinox. Also remember that your viewing site will need to be away from town due to the glare of artificial lights. When you're preparing for a viewing, make sure to pull on warm clothes and expect to be out in the open between 10pm and 2am. It's best to view with little or no moonlight. Of course there are never any guarantees and a cloudy sky can always come along and spoil your party – just make sure to keep your fingers crossed!
Guest post contributed by Lauren Jones, an avid traveller who regularly takes cruises to norway to be able to take in the sight of the aurora borealis, somethign that never gets old!
