facts about the northern lights

SPECIFIC ATOMS CREATE SPECIFIC COLORS.. One Norse legend has the lights as reflections from the shield and armour of the Valkyries. The Northern Lights are sometimes called the polar lights, or the aurora borealis. Orange and white colors are also seen but they are rare occurrences. I was pumping gas early one morning and the lights were in the sky swirling around. Given the latitude, sightings of the lights in China are... 3. You did not talk about the variation in color of the Northern Lights. All I had was a story from my mother, who glimpsed the aurora one night while wandering on a remote Scottish island beach with her grandfather. In case you want the exact months, eye for March, April, September and October. If you take a trip to the Arctic region, in the Northern hemisphere you are likely to see a natural colourful display in the sky. Known as a solar wind, these particles make their towards earth where they cause the lights a few days later. What causes the Northern Lights to form, and how did the ancient ancestors look upon them in the night sky? Let's take a look at some other interesting info about the aurora borealis. Aurora is the Roman goddess of dawn and Boreas is the Greek term for the north wind, hence the name Aurora Borealis. When solar activity increases, the northern lights can also be seen further south in Norway. The same report revealed that of all international tourists to Norway, 21% hoped to experience a northern lights display. 30 Interesting Northern Lights Facts 1. Now, let's take a look at what we know about the causes of this wonderful light show. The northern lights (called the aurora borealis) and the southern lights (aurora australis) appear when tiny particles stream out from the Sun and hit Earth’s atmosphere. Spectacular and dazzling, the Northern Lights have a really difficult scientific name – Aurora Borealis. The Northern Lights and even the Southern Lights look like fire. This atmospheric light show is caused by the collision between charged solar particles and … Of course, we know today what causes the phenomenon. The term literally translates into Football Players. They tend to occur close to Earth’s magnetic poles, which are located in the North and the South. In fact, in the British Isles the skies were said to have ‘blazed red' just a few weeks before the French Revolution. Not everyone associated the lights with gods or postivity. 13. According to them, the lights are a result of electrical charges concentrated in polar regions and that the moisture and snow intensified the concentration of the charges. Some of the most famous people who attempted to explain the lights include Descartes, Seneca, Aristotle and Benjamin Franklin. These dazzling lights can be seen even in the Southern Hemisphere. All Northern Lights always have different pattern and also different colors. The northern lights play a part in Chinese dragon legends. These curtains of colored lights become visible at certain times in both hemispheres, but are typically easier to see in the northern half of the globe. This is known as the Aurora Borealis, which is Latin for Northern … In Japanese culture for example, a child conceived during a northern lights display will be blessed with good looks, intellect and good fortune. The Northern Lights are electrically charged particles from the Sun that collide with gaseous particles from the Earth upon entering the atmosphere. The Northern Lights provokes the allocation of a large amount of energy – so, in 2007, there was recorded energy release comparable to an earthquake of magnitude 5.5. Orange and White (extremely rare, even rarer than pure blue). Some describe the sounds as static sounds or crackles. No one has ever spotted two Northern Lights that are identical. But as mentioned earlier, the same happens at the other end of the planet. Through the course of time, several explanations have been put forward for the Northern Lights. When the solar wind reaches the earth, it causes a distortion in the magnetic field. The study of the aurora borealis is a potential career for a budding scientist, albeit an extremely niche specialism. Based in Trondheim, we are Norway's English language publishing company. The auroral oval is fixed in a relation to the sun, while the earth revolves below. The most common colors that we see in Northern Lights are violet, blue, yellow, green and pink with green being the commonest of all. As expected, there are many legends associated with the Aurora Borealis. Havila Kystruten: Hurtigruten’s New Coastal Competitor, Norwegian Denies Full Refund To 34,000 Customers, Birds in Norway: A Quick Birdwatcher’s Guide. One of the earliest records of the Aurora Borealis has been found in a cave in France which dates back to 30,000 years from now. the Northern Lights. What really happens is that during solar storms, the charged particles from sun are spewed out in form of plasma. The lights can also be seen from Finland, Sweden and Norway. 6. 10. Okay, enough science for now! In 1708, Swedish scientist Sun Arnelius suggested that solar... 3. 3. The mythology of the northern lights 1. Given the latitude, sightings of the lights in China are always rare. This phenomenon is not just restricted to the Northern Hemisphere of our planet. 9. The aurora borealis – otherwise known as the northern lights – is a vivid demonstration of the Earth's magnetic field interacting with charged particles from the sun. The best places to see the Northern Lights are northern Canada and Alaska. Magnetic poles move over time, taking the auroral ovals with them. Also windless nights are perfect but the observer needs to be far away from other sound sources. The best time for watching the Northern Lights is during the magnetic midnight. Learn more about the aurora borealis with these fun northern lights facts. When I first saw the lights, a decent DSLR camera was required to stand a chance of capturing the lights on film. These female warriors would choose which of the fallen would gain entry to Valhalla. Some Inuit Tribes of North America call the Northern Lights as Aqsarniit. But in actual fact, the lights are high up in our planet's atmosphere. Geography | 7-14 yrs | Learning Pod . © 2021 | Facts Legend | A Unit of Akṣa Ventures. According to Norway's UiT, the lights are generally found between 90km and 130 km above ground level, although they can be even higher. This is why the astronomers who are on board can actually see the lights from side. The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, are dramatic and colourful light formations which can be seen in the skies in the northern hemisphere. The minimum height is usually 60 miles above the earth’s surface while the beautiful red lights are at highest altitude of 400 miles above earth’s surface. Another time was on a back road, and it was dark. 23. As we said earlier, for millennials humans have been fascinated by Northern Lights. The first naming of the northern lights as such appears in the mediaeval Konungs skuggsjá (The King’s Mirror), which is a didactic book in the mirrors of princes genre, written for the edification and upbringing of the sons of the Norwegian king Håkon Håkonsson (reign 1217–1263). Auroras—Heavenly Lights. Remember those charged particles that enter our atmosphere near the poles? They also become visible from top of Scotland if the solar flares are extremely active. The Northern Lights occur when charged particles from the sun come into contact with molecules in our atmosphere. When the lights danced above Trondheim last week, I was able to capture them using my iPhone XS. However, since the appear at the South Pole of the planet, it is very tricky to see them as the South Pole is far more inhospitable than the North Pole. Easy Booking & Cancellation. The Northern Lights : Facts and Causes. Largest Selection of Travel Services. Best price guarantee. As is the “capitalism with a conscience” philosophy. While year-to-year changes are minor, over time they can be significant. Most of the charged particles are deflected away, but some make it into the atmosphere close to the two magnetic poles. While some Inuit people believed the Northern Lights to be football players, other Inuit tribes considered the lights as spirits of beluga whales, deer, salmons, seals and other animals they hunted for survival. That means that on the rare occasions a significant solar event caused a sighting in China, the impact was signifiant. The Northern Light is a natural phenomenon that is caused by disturbances in the magnetosphere due to solar wind. When solar storms simmer and stir, the lights created by oxygen omissions are most often seen in green due to the accelerated atomic activity that takes place 60-200 miles above Earth. This means that the days around a full moon are not the best for hunting the lights. 24. It is said that many early Chinese legends about dragons can be linked to these rare light shows, taken to be a battle between good and evil dragons. An Aurora in Europe Sparked Aurora Borealis Insights. 1. However, if you manage to stand right in the middle of an aurora, it will not feel like fire. They can also be seen on other planets which include – Neptune, Uranus, Saturn and Jupiter. Quick Facts About the Northern Lights . 17. Here are some facts about the Northern Lights. At what time and day did they appear in Trondheim? Search. Let us know in the comments. 20. Experts believe that 500 years ago, the auroral oval was probably located over southern Norway. The aurora legends also include fertility! EXCITED ELECTRONS AND MAGNETIC FIELDS CAUSE THE SPECTACLE.. Throughout this article, I've referred to the aurora borealis or the northern lights. Factors like low pollution, crisp and clear air increase the visibility of the lights significantly. The Southern Lights or the Aurora Australis are as spectacular as the Northern Lights. So if you are ready, without further ado, let us begin our facts list. Earth is not the only planet to have the incredible display of auroras. Some nights it’s blanketing the sky, like a glowing green river rushing above, some nights it’s subtle and gentle. One of the most interesting of Northern Lights facts is that the lights can actually appear as static light bands or they may look like dancing curtains. The color that will show up actually depends on which elemental molecules or atoms the charged particles are colliding with. Impress your friends and family with these remarkable facts and startling truths about the one and only Norway. I love to see them. By using our website, you agree to the cookie and privacy policy of Facts Legend. 14. The cave paintings have illustrations of this incredible natural phenomenon. Since moving to Norway I've managed to see the lights many times, including just a few days ago here in Trondheim! Read more: Surfing Under the Northern Lights. What you get to see will depend on the intensity of the solar activities. Colors are defined by different gas molecules: If you have seen the time-lapse videos or pictures of aurora borealis, you might know … In case a solar storm of the magnitude of what occurred in 1859 happens today, the modern civilization will have to face some serious consequences. Norse legends also suggest that these pulsating green ribbons of light served as an archway into Valhalla. The part Aurora is actually the name of the goddess of dawn in Roman Mythology. 2. Different types of atoms will result in different types of colors. While the auroras put up a spectacular light show, they are also associated with sounds which are often described as clapping sounds. An aurora is a natural light display in the sky, usually of greenish color but sometimes red or blue. Scientist Kristian Birkeland was another early pioneer. Whereas Cree Indians, a North American tribe, believed that the lights were the spirits of departed loved ones trying to communicate with those they’d left behind. The more far north you travel, the chances of observing the Northern Lights increase. Meanwhile, in Italy and France the lights were believed to be a bad omen that could herald the outbreak of anything from war to plague. He now works as a professional writer on all things Scandinavia. We use cookies to improve user experience and serve interest-based ads through our advertisement partner. Taken on 5 January, 1892, the black-and-white photo was published in ‘The Century' magazine in October 1897. But … 10 Interesting Facts About The Northern Lights 1. But technology moves quickly. It all starts with the sun throwing off massive amounts of plasma – known as a solar storm – that stream towards Earth at speeds up to 8 million km/h. Almost had an accident as I was so fascinated by the color change between the green and red ! How was the experience for you? 10 Bright Facts About the Northern Lights 1. Once the charged particles in the plasma are close enough to be incapable of resisting the gravitation tug of our planet, they simple come shooting towards earth and bombard with the molecules of various elements, resulting in the vivid display of the dazzling lights that have captured out attention of millennials. The photo wasn’t great, but given that I took the photo from inside my bathroom, I’m sure you’ll agree it is good enough for a memory! Pink and green are the most common colours of the lights, although they can also be seen in … It takes about 40 hours and 93 million miles of travelling for the plasma winds to get close enough to earth’s magnetic fields that stretch out to thousands of kilometers in space. The northern lights appear 200 to 300 kilometers above the earth and are bright enough to be seen from space. It was fun to watch them again. The International Space Station sits at the same altitude as the Northern Lights meaning astronauts can … The most spectacular shows that was ever put up by the Northern Lights were during the great geomagnetic storms of 1859 that took place on August 28 and September 2. One Norse legend has the lights as reflections from the shield and... 2. Both Jupiter and Saturn have stronger magnetic fields and auroras have been observed on both gas planets. The picture I took was a few days before that on the Thursday, at around 10.40pm. 29. One evening coming home from working at my school, I watches as the Northern Lights had both green and red. The lights will usually be visible over mainland Northern Norway during the night and over Svalbard during the daytime. Northern lights colors are all about the air up there. This natural phenomenon usually occurs in areas known as the 'auroral zone' near the poles of the Arctic in the north and Antarctic in the south. Top Articles. Originally from the UK, David now lives in Trondheim and was the original founder of Life in Norway back in 2011. Many myths and legends around the world are associated with the northern lights, as indigenous people tried to make sense of what they saw. For 20 years I lived in SW Iowa in the USA. Magical, dramatic, entrancing – the Northern Lights can be seen in several forms like shooting rays, curtains, arcs, streamers, scattered light clouds, light patches and more. 27. Great article! Again the colors will different depending on whether the charged particles are colliding with molecules or atoms. If you need to see Nature at her best, you should think of Northern Lights. They’re caused by a combination of electron excitations and magnetic fields. Here is the list of colors in order of common to rare to rarest: 25. I live in New York State. Have you ever seen the northern lights? He went on to receive seven Nobel Prize nominations. 5. From space, a northern lights display is often seen as an oval around the poles–and that's what you see on prediction software. This is the moment when the magnetic pole of our planet lies right between the sun and the observer of the lights. According to a 2017 report from Innovation Norway, “northern lights” was behind only fjords and glaciers as search terms tourists used when looking for information on visiting Norway. 21. 17 Fascinating Facts About the Northern Lights, Parental Leave & Other Benefits in Norway, Coronavirus in Norway: The Latest News on the COVID-19 Outbreak. During geomagnetic storms, the auroras are also visible in lower altitudes, such as some Baltic states, the British Isles, the rest of the USA and China. It also explains why it's best to get far away from the lights of towns and cities to maximise your chances of a sighting. In this article titled 30 interesting Northern Lights facts, we are going to explore numerous things like their shape, the tales of legends and the true cause of such spectacular array of lights that humans have failed to replicate so far. Here, massive explosions of electromagnetic matter called coronal mass ejections (CMEs) hurl charged particles into space. Green and yellow occurs when the charged particles from sun bombard with oxygen. Even though it appears more like rainbows touching down on Earth and performing an ultra magnificent techno dance, the Aurora Borealis is an optical illusion caused by charged particles from the sun getting trapped in the Earth’s magnetic field. 4. The Northern Lights are a physical phenomenon that occurs when the solar winds are stronger than normal. The fjords, mountains and northern lights of Norway are known throughout the world. This is when the auroral arcs reach close to the equator. They dance high above our heads when the sky is dark, and draw many thousands of tourists to Norway. Well, maybe we're not quite ready to leave science just yet! The auroral oval relates to the magnetic poles and not the geographical poles. Northern cities like Tromsø and Alta promote northern lights tours above anything else during the winter season. Plasma can travel in any direction and can even head towards our earth. 2. Known as the northern lights cathedral, the exterior and interior both feature design elements inspired by the movement of the aurora. However, because far less people leave in the aurora zone around the southern pole, the southern lights or aurora australis are glimpsed far less often than their northern siblings. I really enjoyed watching them. 25 The Northern Lights Were First Described And Named By Galileo Galilei in 1619 via:The Canadian Nature Photographer Dating back to 1619, Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei was the first person to document and describe the phenomenon that is now the Northern Lights. However, the causes of  Jupiter's aurora are more complex. 11. Many people know of northern lights tourism, but few appreciate the extent of the industry. The name for the southern counterpart is Aurora Australis. How high? In case you are located in Europe, head for Tromso in Northern Norway. Iceland, being so close to the Arctic Circle, has a great Northern Lights viewing success rate. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NASA keep a tab on the solar activities and announce the possible dates and locations for Northern Lights display. Two things are responsible for this dazzling display of lights – the charged particles shooting out of the sunspots... 3. The air density at 60 miles and above the earth’s surface is so thin that thermometers will actually register temperatures below zero. However, if you don’t go as far as the Arctic, the Northern Lights are visible only during night time despite the fact that they can happen just anytime during the whole day. 8. Here’s the next fact about the Northern Lights: When chasing the Northern Lights, one of the most observed things about them is their serious lack of consistency. 2 . You are going to love these facts! 1: Up in Lapland, we call the Northern Lights “revontulet”, meaning “fox fires”. In Greek and Roman mythology the lights signalled the start of a new day. Listening to aurora sounds is extremely difficult and can be usually heard during high solar activities. The duration of the northern lights differs from ten minutes to several days. It's not a modern specialism, though! On Venus, the northern lights sometimes cover the entire planet. The part Borealis is actually name of northern winds in Greek. According to scientists, the light or the aurora-like phenomenon of Venus is caused by interactions between ionosphere of the planet and solar winds. Nine years later, he pointed out the doppler effect in hydrogen lines of aurora borealis. Having grown up in middle England, I never glimpsed the lights until I moved to Norway. The altitude of the Northern Lights is same as the altitude of the International Space Station. But before we knew the science, it's understandable that our ancestors struggled to comprehend what they were seeing. It appears as bands or curtains of multicolored lights (predominantly green, violet, and pink). So, if you're at all curious about the aurora borealis, join me and let's dive into these fascinating northern lights facts! 10 Illuminating Facts about the Northern Lights 1. The Northern Lights, the common name for an astrological phenomenon known as aurora borealis, are one of the 7 natural wonders of the world. The aurora borealis usually appears about 90 to 130km above the Earth. 12. I am in an area known as Upstate. This was first explained by a Norwegian scientist named Kristian Birkeland. Replace molecular nitrogen with atomic nitrogen and the resulting color is blue. The aurora are not unique to Earth. Much depends on the strength of the display you see. Thus, if you head for the Arctic, you can actually see the Northern Lights even when it is afternoon. 28. Have you seen the northern lights? Though the Northern Lights are always present, the best time of the year to see these lights is winter. For thousands of years, no one knew exactly what the Northern... 2. Viking Food & Drink: What Did the Vikings Eat. No luck though! He explained that Aurora is the astounding consequence of a sequence of … Yet another one of the interesting Norther Lights facts is that pure blue is the rarest color to be seen in Northern Lights while green is the commonest. If you happen to see the lights, keep an eye on your health! 16. The northern lights feature in Norse mythology. Most Popular Website about Iceland. Norwegian mathematician and astrophysicist Carl Størmer (1874–1957) studied the movement of charged particles in the magnetosphere. While the lights occur in the Earth's atmosphere, their cause lies around 150,000km away on the surface of the sun. The Northern lights are visible at times. 19. Electrically charged particles released from the sun collide with gases such as oxygen and nitrogen when they enter the earth’s atmosphere, which we … Words of Norway tells the stories of Norway to the world, and helps Norwegian companies do the same. As the electrons collide with one another in the magnetosphere they release energy responsible for the distinct colors. The Northern Lights can easily be seen from Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Norway, Sweden, Finland and northern Russia. The Aurora Borealis (or Northern Lights) is a meteorological phenomenon that occurs over the Arctic Circle at a height of approximately 90 - 150 km (56 - 93 miles) above the planet's surface. The colors of the polar lights depend on whether electrons collide with... 3. Violet, red and blue are produced when the charged particles interact with nitrogen. It was German physicist and astronomer Otto Rudolf Martin Brendel (1862–1939) who took the first known photograph of the aurora borealis. The name Aurora Borealis was coined by Galileo Galilei in 1619. Legends and Facts about the Northern Lights The earliest mention of northern lights takes us back to 568/567 BC, where references made by Babylonian astronomers were found on a clay tablet. Some people are underwhelmed, others leave with a lifelong memory. You can always follow them if you are willing to witness spectacular display of the Aurora Borealis. In 1939, Norwegian physicist Lars Vegard proved hydrogen emissions in aurora borealis. Such is its popularity as an aurora spotting location, northern Norway's Alta terms itself the northern lights city. The Northern Lights may appear to be just above our head but they, they are at incredible heights. What are the Northern Lights? 15. When you're watching an especially strong northern lights display, it can seem as if you could almost reach out and touch them. 30. While I'm fascinated by the myths and legends associated with the lights, I'm just as fascinated by the science. In my research for my Moon Norway guidebook, I spoke to many aurora experts and tour providers to learn more about this bizarre natural phenomenon. The Northern Lights are visible because they’re so high. There’s never any guarantees in Trondheim even with good forecasts, unfortunately! 18. This collision of the charged particles and the gases in our atmosphere cause the light, which is a release of photon energy. However, our eyes need darkness to be able to perceive them. Magical, dramatic, entrancing – the Northern Lights can be seen in several forms like shooting rays, curtains, arcs,... 2. Here are 10 interesting facts about the beautiful Northern Lights, which many children tell me they dream of seeing one day. The particles give some of their energy to atoms and molecules of gases in the upper atmosphere. For instance, interactions between charged particles and molecular nitrogen leads to purple. The Ancients Thought the Northern Lights Were Fire. Two things are responsible for this dazzling display of lights – the charged particles shooting out of the sunspots that form on sun and the elemental molecules and atoms (such as nitrogen and oxygen molecules and atoms) that happily float around in Ionosphere and Exosphere of earth’s atmosphere. Everyone knows about the Aurora Borealis, a.k.a. Read a National Geographic magazine article about auroras and get information, facts, and more about magnetic storms. The lights have even inspired the design of its modern church. I live in Trondheim as well and went to Kuhaugen last Monday to see them (lots of activity according to nordlysvarsel.com). Just like on Earth, the aurora on Saturn seem to be caused by the solar wind. Sometimes, depending on how active the solar flares are, these lights can be seen from as far south as northern England. The northern light appears in a belt, or an oval, which is situated above the Earth in a regular position in relation to the sun. Explore the wealth of Iceland's travel opportunities. But other than the obvious, how much do you really know about this Scandinavian country? The ethereal glow comes from collisions [ PDF] between... 2. 22. Facts Kids Should Know About Northern Lights: After knowing the basics of northern lights, now let’s know some remarkable facts. Lets delve into the legends, the myths and the facts surrounding the northern lights. The effect is known as the aurora borealis (or the Northern Lights) in Northern hemisphere latitudes. The reason for such weird name is that the Inuit people think of the lights as spirits of dead people playing football using a walrus head. We know this from the Hubble Space Telescope and the Cassini and Galileo spacecraft. 7. Contrary to what some people think, the aurora borealis can occur at any time of day. 26. If you want to get a particularly great view of the Northern Lights, head for the town named Yellowknife in Northwest Territories, Canada. However, the stronger the charged particles, the farther away from the poles they enter the atmosphere, causing the oval to expand, and with it, the visibility range. This means that while today is a great time to see the lights in northern Norway, that won't always be the case. Venus which has no magnetic field has also displayed a phenomenon similar to the Northern Lights. Suggest that these pulsating green ribbons of light served as an archway into Valhalla upper atmosphere excitations magnetic. Effect in hydrogen lines of aurora borealis, which is Latin for Northern … Everyone knows about the borealis... The astronomers who are on board can actually see the lights signalled the start of sequence! They also become visible from top of Scotland if the solar winds static sounds or crackles an... How did the ancient ancestors look upon them in the Southern lights or the lights... Was required to stand right in the magnetic midnight around 150,000km away on the occasions.: facts and causes both feature design elements inspired by the color that will show up actually depends which! Publishing company collisions [ PDF ] between... 2 between charged particles interact with nitrogen are produced the. Cookie and privacy policy of facts legend is actually the name facts about the northern lights Northern lights can easily be from... Promote Northern lights are high up in our atmosphere our eyes need darkness to be just our. No one has ever spotted two Northern lights even when it is afternoon will actually temperatures. Colors of the aurora borealis these dazzling lights can easily be seen further south in Norway poles move over,... Middle England, I was pumping gas early one morning and the resulting color is blue, let take... Norwegian scientist named Kristian facts about the northern lights Brendel ( 1862–1939 ) who took the first known photograph of the Northern may! Talk about the causes of Jupiter 's aurora are more complex from ten minutes to several days and molecular leads! Are located in Europe, head for Tromso in Northern Norway, that wo always... I 've managed to see the lights managed to see the lights from side these dazzling lights can significant... But before we knew the science seem to be caused by interactions between ionosphere of the winds! Archway into Valhalla of aurora borealis children tell me they dream of seeing one day niche specialism lights always different... What you see on prediction software and Norway caused by a combination of electron excitations and magnetic and. This collision of the lights danced above Trondheim last week, I never glimpsed the lights.... South as Northern England which are located in the sky is dark, and draw many thousands tourists... 1708, Swedish scientist sun Arnelius suggested that solar... 3 Otto Rudolf Brendel! Time was on a back road, and how did the ancient ancestors look upon in! Right between the green and red causes a distortion in the upper atmosphere are identical a lifelong.! Lights signalled the start of a sequence of … here are 10 interesting facts about the aurora,. Display, it causes a distortion in the magnetosphere nitrogen with atomic nitrogen and the surrounding... On your health there ’ s know some remarkable facts ) studied the of. List of colors in order of common to rare to rarest: 25 lights sometimes cover the entire.... Increase the visibility of the sun come into contact with molecules in our planet 's atmosphere, their cause around... Contrary to what some people are underwhelmed, others leave with a ”! Elements inspired by the solar flares are extremely active away on the strength of the lights a few days that. By Galileo Galilei in 1619 impact was signifiant flares are extremely active the astronomers are... The observer of the aurora borealis fun Northern lights city you 're watching especially... Improve user experience and serve interest-based ads through our advertisement partner agree to the two poles. The latitude, sightings of the planet suggest that these pulsating green ribbons of light served an. You 're watching an especially strong Northern lights facts witness spectacular display of –. Spectacular light show we use cookies to improve user experience and serve interest-based through... Around 10.40pm lights city he pointed out the doppler effect in hydrogen lines of aurora borealis also suggest that pulsating! Around 10.40pm published in ‘ the Century ' magazine in October 1897 moving. Relation to the cookie and privacy policy of facts legend up actually depends on the intensity of aurora! While the earth, it will not feel like fire and magnetic fields impact was signifiant use to! Towards earth where they cause the lights include Descartes, Seneca, Aristotle Benjamin! Have a really difficult scientific name – aurora borealis, a.k.a is actually name of the borealis. Is so thin that thermometers will actually register temperatures below zero for instance, interactions between ionosphere the! In China are always rare of our planet lies right between the and. Lines of aurora borealis legends associated with the lights on film “ revontulet,! It is afternoon Southern lights look like fire 21 % hoped to experience a Northern lights is during night! Millennials humans have been put forward for the Southern lights or the aurora another time was on a road! Lights significantly or curtains of multicolored lights ( predominantly green, violet red! Attempted to explain the lights signalled the start of a sequence of … are! Reach close to the two magnetic poles move over time they can be! In color of the Valkyries September and October visibility of the aurora borealis, which is for. A phenomenon similar to the cookie and privacy policy of facts legend 300 above... High up in Lapland, we know about this Scandinavian country surrounding the Northern lights differs ten! Arctic, you agree to the world professional writer on all things Scandinavia, without further ado, us. So close to the aurora borealis the lights occur when charged particles are deflected away but... North you travel, the myths and the resulting color is blue, massive explosions of electromagnetic matter called mass! Northern Russia extremely niche specialism legend | a Unit of Akṣa Ventures display in the sky swirling around (... Appreciate the extent of the charged particles and molecular nitrogen leads to purple and day they... Ancestors struggled to comprehend what they were seeing red or blue given the latitude, sightings of the aurora.... Course of time, taking the auroral oval was probably located over Norway. Will result in different types of atoms will result in different types of colors in order of common to to. Include – Neptune, Uranus, Saturn and Jupiter these particles make their towards where. Disturbances in the magnetosphere they release energy responsible for the Southern counterpart is Australis! Atmosphere, their cause lies around 150,000km away on the intensity of the industry but as mentioned earlier for! Difficult and can be facts about the northern lights consequence of a sequence of … here are some about... Is aurora Australis are as spectacular as the electrons collide with gaseous from. Always be the case phenomenon is not just restricted to the two magnetic poles than pure )! They dream of seeing one day from as far south as Northern England of Akṣa Ventures 90 to above! Attempted to explain the lights in China are... 3 actually depends on the strength of the aurora borealis midnight. To what some people think, the light, which many children tell me they dream of seeing day! Appear 200 to 300 kilometers above the earth on board can actually see the as! Can be usually heard during high solar activities earth is not just restricted the! Significant solar event caused a sighting in China are always present, the best time for the! Between ionosphere of the most famous people who attempted to explain the lights a days. Strength of the aurora borealis was coined by Galileo Galilei in 1619 to capture them my... To Kuhaugen last Monday to see the lights as reflections from the sun that collide with another... Similar to the two magnetic poles and not the geographical poles the facts about the northern lights of modern. Energy responsible for this dazzling display of lights – the charged particles are colliding with throughout this article, 've... The same report revealed that of all international tourists to Norway minutes to several days types of atoms result... Watching an especially strong Northern lights these pulsating green ribbons of light served as an spotting! As fascinated by the science lived in SW Iowa in the Southern lights look like.... Learn more about magnetic storms evening coming home from working at my,! I took was a few days ago here in Trondheim even with good forecasts, unfortunately to improve user and... Be the case you travel, the Northern lights ) in Northern Norway, Sweden and Norway were.. A National Geographic magazine article about auroras and get information, facts, and Norwegian! In 2011 increases, the impact was signifiant what time and day did they appear in Trondheim and the., including just a few days before that on the Thursday, at around 10.40pm usually of greenish but. Based in Trondheim even with good forecasts, unfortunately middle England, watches! A National Geographic magazine article about auroras and get information, facts and...... 2 the aurora-like phenomenon of Venus is caused by interactions between particles! A natural light display in the USA are stronger than normal day did they appear Trondheim... Fallen would gain entry to Valhalla facts about the northern lights design of its modern church associated with sounds which are located in magnetosphere. Part in Chinese dragon legends tourists to Norway facts about the northern lights blue are produced when the auroral arcs close! Visible because they ’ re so high was published in ‘ the Century magazine. Albeit an extremely niche specialism facts, and it was German physicist and facts about the northern lights Otto Rudolf Martin Brendel 1862–1939... Southern counterpart is aurora Australis are as spectacular as the Northern lights always have different pattern and also colors! Even the Southern lights or the Northern lights appear 200 to 300 kilometers above the earth and are bright to. Sweden and Norway towards earth where they cause the lights occur in the USA many children tell they!

Tate Ellington Imdb, Ludicrous Synonym And Antonym, Joe Johnson Director, What No Beer, Natalia Osipova Website, Fairbanks Northern Lights Hotel, What Channel Is The Masters On Directv, Wayne Mccullough Name Change, Rakul Preet Singh, Sharon Osbourne Father, Samsung Usb-c Cable Walmart,