The Asked

Chapter 10 — Science & Nature

What causes the northern lights?

Charged particles from the sun follow Earth's magnetic field to the poles and collide with atmospheric gases. Oxygen glows green at around 100 km and red much higher; nitrogen produces blue and purple fringes.

Follow-up questions

Where is the best place to see the aurora?

Inside the auroral oval — northern Norway, Iceland, Finnish Lapland, Alaska, and northern Canada — on dark, clear nights away from town lights.

When is aurora season?

September to March in the north, with the equinoxes statistically the most active. Solar maximum years greatly increase the odds.

Can you see the aurora with the naked eye?

Yes, though cameras capture more colour. Faint displays look grey-green to the eye because low light limits colour vision.

Is there a southern equivalent?

Yes, the aurora australis, visible from Tasmania, southern New Zealand, and Antarctica.

Best places to see them?

Tromsø, Fairbanks, Yellowknife, Iceland, and northern Scotland between September and March, on clear moonless nights.

What is the KP index?

A 0–9 scale of geomagnetic activity — KP 5+ pushes auroras to lower latitudes.

Are they visible to the naked eye?

Yes, but often as a pale glow. Long-exposure cameras exaggerate the color you see in tourist photos.

Southern lights too?

Aurora Australis, same physics, visible from Tasmania, New Zealand, and Antarctica.

People also search

  • aurora forecast
  • kp index explained
  • best time to see northern lights
  • aurora photography settings
  • solar storms
  • kp index tonight
  • iceland aurora forecast
  • solar storm today
  • aurora borealis camera

Related across The Asked

More from Science & Nature