Aurora Lights- Northern Lights & Southern Lights
The Northern and Southern lights are renowned for their splendor and grandiose in the night sky. They cast brilliant streaks of color onto the dark canvas of twilight. But what exactly are they, and when can you see them? Late March Is the Best Time to See the Northern Lights & Southern Lights.
The answers to those questions await you on this page.
The Northern and Southern Lights, scientifically called Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis, are a light phenomenon that occur near the poles. They often appear green or reddish in color, and their appearance is linked to the magnetism of the tips of the Earth. Last year, the auroras had been particularly large and gorgeous, something that many have taken advantage of. However, with the arrival of the Spring Equinox (March 20), most viewers had packed up for the season, assuming the auroras are over.
That’s where they are wrong.
The Spring Equinox allows for more impressive auroras, and since Southern Lights season is about to begin, we are entering one of the best times for any aurora seeker to catch a glimpse of these beautiful lights. The reason for this is that the Earth lies on its side facing the sun, which allows the magnetic fields of Earth and the solar winds to be synchronized. While the mathematics behind it are not always accurate, results from the past show that it’s the most likely time to see the auroras. Now, where can you find the Northern and Southern Lights?
The Northern Lights surround the Arctic Circle, between 65°N and 75°N latitude.
Alaska, Upper Canada, and Northern Scandinavia (Iceland, Norway & Finland) are your best bet in terms of seeing the Aurora Borealis.
Iceland
Iceland
Finland
Norway
Alaska
The Southern Lights are a bit trickier. Unless you’re planning to visit Antarctica anytime soon, you’ll need to head “down under” to see your aurora. Tasmania (Australia), Lower New Zealand, and the Falkland Islands are all in the acceptable 65°S to 75°S latitude range.
Aurora lights up the sky of Queenstown, New Zealand
Now that we’ve tackled the what, when, and where, we need to talk about the how. How do you see the Northern and Southern Lights?
Make sure your hotel room has a window! Auroras will appear at any time during the night, so you must be alert if you’re looking to see one. They are most observed from dusk to midnight, but that doesn’t mean that those are the only time to see them. They can just as easily appear at 2 in the morning. Don’t be alarmed! You can stay at a hotel that offers an aurora wake-up call to relieve you of the stress of waiting.
Now, go out and enjoy Aurora Borealis and Australis, the Northern and Southern Lights!
