Northern Lights

[aaron]

Just a bit of fun to see who has or hasn't seen the Northern Lights...

Also, am I being naiive, or is there an equivalent of the Northern Lights in the southern hemisphere?

Aaron
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[winglady]

No, I've never seen them. I live too far south for the lights to be visible except on very rare occassions.

However, I like to take a look at this site:

http://www.sel.noaa.gov/pmap/

to watch for greater aurora activity, in the hopes that I may someday see them way down here at about 47 degrees N.

This site shows photos people have taken of the lights:

http://science.nasa.gov/spaceweather/aurora/gallery_01feb04.htm

And, yes, Aaron, there are Southern Lights also!

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[axxiom]

The southern lights are called Aurora Australis equally as spectacular as their northern cousins although they are not seen as often as there are not many people in Antartica.

For some great Aurora Australis photos taken from I believe the English base down there click here http://ast.leeds.ac.uk/haverah/spaseman/aurora.shtml
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[psc1kvl]

Whats the most northern town in Norway people drive to to look at them? Looking for a book on it or the route and I'm a bit stuck as I cant start without the name!

[aaron]

I'm not sure what you mean by "Whats the most northern town in Norway people drive to to look at them?" The Northern Lights ought to be visible from any northern Norwegian towns. Tromso has a Northern Lights Festival which you might be interested in. It happens when the sun re-emerges for the first time in two months.

Aaron
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[Dan]

Tromso is the most accessible place that garuantees you a view of the AB, but the effect is also visible from much further South in suitable atmospheric conditions.

A few years ago (maybe about 7!) the lights were visible in central England. I remember stading in a field in rural Shropshire and seeing the colours on the horizon vary.

Maybe not what Aaron means by "the northern lights" but what we were watching was definitely the Southern most extreme of the electromagnetic spectacle. I'd love to go to Tromso though.

Dan.
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[aaron]

[psc1kvl]

Ooo ok!

[Brettuk]

Northern lights are known as aurora Borealis right? Or am i makin stuff up

What countries get the best views?

Brett

[jfslenes]

Born, raised, and awed by them! On a cold winters night, they will almost send tingles down your spine. They are very unearthly to a young lad.

Not seen as well in summer as the darned sun won't go away. Think I'll just stay in NM for the winters tho!
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[Ginirover]

We had the best Aurora Borealis vieuws in Canada. By far the best destination to see the polar light is Yellowknife in the North West Territories. You need the luck to have an uncloudy night in fall / winter and you're bound to see the lights I've seen it several times (also in other northern cities in Canada and Norway) and it never ceases to amize me !

[josee]

Sorry Aaron, As I am abit late on replying to your questions but I will have to agree with Ginirover,
[b]CANADA [/b]is where the Northern Light are best viewed, I have seen them a least a dozen times from my backyard in Calgary, I have seem them in all different colors, the most Common color is Green. The Capital of the Aurora Borealis (where they are best seen) is Churchill, Manitoba, Canada N 58 degree from the equator. Churchill is also the Polar Bear Capitol of the World. They are best seen in the winter, but I have also seen them in the summer from Lake Louise, Alberta while I was camping. In the summer they are not colorful, but like a flashing- dancing white light in the sky.
It is very difficult to explain the feeling of watching the natural wonder and extraordinary phenomenon.
If that is not a reason enough to visit Canada.
Josee

[Destination-Travel]

Can the Northern Lights be seen from England? I've never seen them even as far South as Glasgow.....
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[paul]

I guess light pollution in Glasgow wouldn't help. And yes, you're supposed to be able to see them in England, but I think it's very rare and I've never seen them here. I have seen them very spectacularly in Greenland, though. I just sat on a hillside away from any light pollution and gazed at the sky for ages...

Paul
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[sugarplum]

I can hardly believe it!
I lived in Aberdeen, Scotland for over 30 years and have never seen the Northern Lights.

The lights are said to be visible fairly often from the surrounding countryside where the city lights don't pollute the night sky. Perhaps part of the reason for my having missed them so successfully is the fact that a clear sky is a rarity in the Aberdeen in the months when the Aurora Borealis is most common (September, October, March, April).

(Not much chance of seeing them from Croydon, where I live now. )
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