Looking For The Northern Lights?
It's on my to-do list of things that I want to see before I die. While man made marvels are pretty awe inspiring to see, it's still pretty hard to beat mother nature.
As you may suspect, the best place to see the Aurora Borealis is from somewhere up north. MOre specifically, anywhere you can get to that's within 2500km (1500 miles) from the North Pole. That includes a number of countries, fortunately of which is likely close to you. Cananda (my home), Greenland, Siberia, Norway and Alaska all fall into this region. The northern areas of all these countries is where you'll want to be. Traveling to Toronto, Canada is not going to give you much of a view ;) Checkout mapquest.com, if you don't get the joke.
Now here's a bit of a surprise (at least for me) you can actually see the Northern Lights from the South Pole. So, why don't they call it the Southern Lights? Bit of a popularity contest I guess. They're simply aren't that many regions in the south suitable for human habitation, that make for a good viewing location. So unless you live in Antarctica, Tasmania, or southern New Zealand, the lights are pretty hard to see. Of course if your crazy enough to be on a boat in the Southern Ocean you may have a pretty remarkable view.
Another little piece of trivia here, is that no matter which pole you view mother natures pyrotechnics from, the show is almost identical. Pretty much, a mirror image of each other. Kinda cool huh?
As you may suspect, the best place to see the Aurora Borealis is from somewhere up north. MOre specifically, anywhere you can get to that's within 2500km (1500 miles) from the North Pole. That includes a number of countries, fortunately of which is likely close to you. Cananda (my home), Greenland, Siberia, Norway and Alaska all fall into this region. The northern areas of all these countries is where you'll want to be. Traveling to Toronto, Canada is not going to give you much of a view ;) Checkout mapquest.com, if you don't get the joke.
Now here's a bit of a surprise (at least for me) you can actually see the Northern Lights from the South Pole. So, why don't they call it the Southern Lights? Bit of a popularity contest I guess. They're simply aren't that many regions in the south suitable for human habitation, that make for a good viewing location. So unless you live in Antarctica, Tasmania, or southern New Zealand, the lights are pretty hard to see. Of course if your crazy enough to be on a boat in the Southern Ocean you may have a pretty remarkable view.
Another little piece of trivia here, is that no matter which pole you view mother natures pyrotechnics from, the show is almost identical. Pretty much, a mirror image of each other. Kinda cool huh?
Photographs Of The Northern Lights
Not quite the same as being there, I know.
You can click on any of the small pictures to see the full image. They are pretty spectacular in full size. One of these days, I will make the trip up north to view the lights in their natural habitat. For now, I'll just have to settle for this small collection.
Northern Lights Viewed Through Time Lapse Video
This video is sure to make you want to see the Aurora in person
This is a pretty amazing video, that allows for a view of the real Northern Lights from right in your own home. It's pretty surreal. I'm sure, that seeing them in person is still better. There's no way a camera can capture the true feeling of watching something like this in person. But for now, it's all you've got . . . so have a look.
Northern Lights Questions, Comments and Suggestions
What are your experiences with the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis)
I'd love to hear some comments from anyone, whose been to see the lights in person. Please include when you visited, and exactly where you watched from. Tips for optimal viewing by the newbies would be appreciated as well. Other comments and questions are welcome as well.
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- MusicMadness MusicMadness Sep 17, 2009 @ 8:14 am | in reply to Garry
- Gary, that's hilarious. I'm glad it wasn't the big one, as I've had some pretty good times since 1984. And still looking forward to more ;)
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- Garry Garry Sep 16, 2009 @ 9:57 pm
- I saw the northern lights lights one night back in 1984(?) camping in the lower Adiradondacks thinking it was the Big One! Laying on my on my back, I thought, this is it! Lights were not mushrooming, but, they were flashing back and forth everywhere and all I could think of was we'd had some sort of confrontation with the Soviet Union while I was camping, and the rest was history.
But, while all this was happening, I was just admiring the sky!
P>S> 007 had still been in the news and Reagan was still in Town- it was a scary time!
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- MusicMadness MusicMadness Feb 26, 2009 @ 9:07 am | in reply to MattTaylor
- Usually it's better to be a little further North to see the Northern Lights, but I have heard claims of them being seen as far south as Florida! The best months for viewing lights are late August through to the middle of April. Midnight is astronomical midnight, which can be a hour or so different from normal clock time. Churchill Alaska is supposedly the best place on the planet to view the lights.
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- MattTaylor MattTaylor Feb 26, 2009 @ 8:06 am
- Nice lens Chris! Just out of curiousity, is there a best time of the year to see the northern lights? I live in NW Washington state near the border of Canada and have never see them yet... 5***** for a great subject!
Matt
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- mrsjordanjr mrsjordanjr Feb 14, 2009 @ 1:23 pm
- I used to see quite a bit of northern lights while driving along US 2 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_2) in northern Wisconsin traveling to and from Minnesota late at night.
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- MusicMadness MusicMadness Jan 26, 2009 @ 3:51 pm
- Sorry Becky, I can't email you, since you never left me your email address. But, to answer your question, yes you can see the Northern Lights from Maine. Usually during the winter months. Apparently, according to this website http://www.umpi.maine.edu/~mccartnk/nlights.htm, you can even sometimes see the Northern Lights in Florida. Wow!
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- Becky Becky Jan 25, 2009 @ 4:40 pm
- I thought I saw Northern Lights in ME, USA. Is that possible? Can you e-mail me with answer? It was early in the 1980's. Thanks!
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- Dec 18, 2008 @ 6:17 pm
- Growing up in Northern Minnesota, we would get an occassional glimpse of the Northern Lights.
They're beautiful.
Great lens
LizzyJean
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- Heather426 Heather426 Dec 14, 2008 @ 4:22 pm
- really nice! I want to see them in person someday too!
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- leplep leplep Dec 5, 2008 @ 2:49 am
- nice lens, i live in NL zone :) i must say in this year we cant watch them very often (low solar activity or bad weather). i think you could add section with 360 panoramas of northern lights, i found some great links on http://www.guidetonorthernlights.com i enojoy them much more than flat photos!.
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- Tiddledeewinks Tiddledeewinks Oct 16, 2008 @ 2:12 pm
- Awsesome pics! I haven't seen them in person, but I had a spectacular dream of seeing them once!
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- Tinks8 Tinks8 Oct 13, 2008 @ 10:27 pm
- oh g Im inlove with your topic..keep it rollin
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- stargazer00 stargazer00 Oct 9, 2008 @ 12:42 am
- I live in WA state and have seen them once. Sort of like a swirly green curtain. Interesting stuff.
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- BethErickson BethErickson Oct 5, 2008 @ 10:48 pm
- oh my this is so beautiful. Is this what also called aurora borealis? I wanted to see this in actual someday. The image looks like you're in a different world. Like an alien sky or something. Great lens. 5 *'s for a wonderful and nice presentation. :)
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Lets Talk About The Northern Lights
Or at least listen to what the others are saying
The northern lights are more than just a fascinating scientific display. They are spiritual and inspiring as well. Just give a listen to what others are saying about them.
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- tonymaden
- You have gotta try this guy's backgrounds for mac/windows- Northern Lights is my fave http://ow.ly/O2gS
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- cwhite24
- #crazysexspots the bathroom of Tim Hortons Northern Lights
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- brianneasher
- @mynameismiko 18! have you seen the northern lights?
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- bryanczap
- @jakemaydayp keep practicing those paradiddles. next time your coming up and playing for northern lights
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- QuantumCoach
- @quantumactivist A network of cameras deployed around the Arctic has made a startling discovery abt the Northern Lights. http://is.gd/5uGor
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- Merk144
- firstly Goa, India, for NYE and then Northern Lights In Iceland. SWEET!!!
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- MissCaseyAmber
- @AntonioSOD Supersilver, AK47, New York Diesel and Northern Lights ^_^
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- MaAnnaS
- Plasma is the 4th state of matter. The Northern Lights are made of plasma.
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- netwebshops
- Northern Lights Drawer Chest in Dark Walnut http://bit.ly/821hRc
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- neilwelch
- northern lights are always something I wanted to see http://twitpic.com/uemlw
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- cyberdoyle
- @Baskers yes its. its bn glowing all nite. straight north of us. gotta B northern lights, no reports of cumbria fires. sky lit up pink/gold
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- ervin_lp
- Can't be northern lights. Not here. But tis so bright outside at 1030PM. I can see black outside
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- UKPIG
- Also planning a members trip to see the Northern Lights in 2010
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- alinayalumba
- Someone get me Northern Lights...
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- janetedavis
- Sounds interesting! RT @cyberdoyle can anyone else in lancashire see the northern lights or is Cumbria alight? the sky is very pink....
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- cyberdoyle
- can anyone else in lancashire see the northern lights or is Cumbria alight? the sky is very pink....
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- musictixalb
- #musictix Check out tickets for the Badfish concert at Northern Lights next week http://bit.ly/8LPL4F
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- thezeroofform
- ... I recommend a trip to Northern Lights in the Laines. Tasty food and soothing elderflower cider!
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- MichaelEyes
- Want to view the Northern Lights from the comfort of glass enclosed igloo. This is awesome http://bit.ly/5CTfw4
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- SciTechFeed
- Picture of the Day – Aurora Shimmer and a Meteor Flash: Northern Lights, or aurora borealis, haunted skies over.. http://bit.ly/69glUV
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by MusicMadness
Hi, I'm Chris. I'm a husband, a dad, a brother, a son, a nephew, an uncle, a sailor, a pretty good squash player, a programmer, an internet marketer,... (more)
