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Home » Outdoor Fun » Weather 101 » Winter’s Northern Lights Show Called Aurora Borealis

Winter’s Northern Lights Show Called Aurora Borealis

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The Aurora Borealis (also known as the Northern Lights) are a phenomenon usually seen in the skies above the northern polar regions of planet Earth.

Aurora Borealis Northern Lights in the winter

Canada, Alaska, and many of the northern tier states are well within the range that can experience these dramatic light displays.

The Southern polar region has similar displays — they are referred to as the Aurora Australis.

This Canadian Northern Lights video demonstrates the dramatic effect we see on many clear nights:

 

What Causes The Northern Lights

Charged particles coming from the sun travel in solar winds toward Earth.

As they are pulled into Earth’s magnetosphere, they collide and excite atoms and molecules in the upper atmosphere.

The color of the lights will vary, depending on what gasses or compounds are present during this solar event.

Walking in the snow while watching The Northern Lights show in the north sky.

The end result is a waving sheet-like light effect that will undulate and swirl through the night skies being more visible the farther north you happen to be.

See what actually powers the greatest light show on Earth.

 

Have You Seen The Northern Lights?

I've actually seen the Aurora Borealis light show several times

I’ve seen this spectacular light show many times.

Living in northern Minnesota, I’ve noticed that late at night (well after midnight), these random dancing lights are best seen on a clear night when the stars seem close enough to be within reach.

My favorite memories of the Aurora Borealis are of times when I was a young adult snowmobiling many miles from civilization in the north woods. The farther you get away from cities or populated areas, the less ambient light will block out your view of the night sky. We would travel deep into the woods, shut off the snow machines, and lay back on the seats to enjoy the light show above. All the while, reveling in the absolute silence of a 30-below freezing cold winter night.

After high school, I worked my first summer as a deckhand on an iron ore carrier traveling the Great Lakes. Late at night, we would sit on deck in the middle of Lake Superior and listening to the “thump, thump” of the steam-driven propeller, as we slowly worked our way toward the iron mills in Cleveland. (This was one of the last steam-powered vessels to work the lakes.) The night skies were crystal clear and the Northern Lights would swim through the stars following us on our journey.

The night sky filled with light - Aurora Borealis.

Watching the light show wash across the heavens can be a spiritual experience. The Cree Indians call it “The Dance of the Spirits”. It will give you cause to stop and ponder our place in the universe for sure. Even today (as recent as last fall, when I happened to witness the Northern Lights), I still stop and watch.

Check out these tips for photographing The Northern Lights.

Enjoy this Northern Lights slideshow, featuring some fantastic photography of the Aurora Borealis:

 

Curtis
Curtis

I’ve been involved in RVing for 50 years now — including camping, building, repairing, and even selling RVs. I’ve owned, used, and repaired almost every class and style of RV ever made. I do all of my own repair work. My other interests include cooking, living with an aging dog, and dealing with diabetic issues. If you can combine a grease monkey with a computer geek, throw in a touch of information nut and organization freak, combined with a little bit of storyteller, you’ve got a good idea of who I am.

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Filed Under: Outdoor Fun, Weather 101 Tagged With: Clouds, lightning, minnesota, outer space, stars, videos

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JoshuaI'm a weather geek from Florida who's been studying meteorology and watching weather patterns for years! I enjoy sharing little-known facts and fun stuff about the weather. I especially like sharing interesting details about weather events and conditions that can affect you... and how to prepare for Mother Nature's ever-changing weather patterns.

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Weatherman TimI'm a TV weatherman in south Texas. I get blamed for the bad weather, but I also get credit for the beautiful days. I absolutely love my job!

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LynnetteAs a homeowner, I primarily write about weather safety tips that everyone should know in order to protect their home and family during major weather events. I especially like to share seasonal "outside the box" ideas that most wouldn't think of in the Spring, Summer, Winter, and Fall. The weather events I've personally experienced include: Hurricanes (while living in Florida), Tornadoes (while living in Indiana, Texas, and Tennessee), Earthquakes (while visiting California), Blizzards (while living in New York and Indiana), and Flooding (while living in Tennessee).

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