AURORA BOREALIS

The Aurora Borealis

Go see the spectacular Northern Lights Updated June 2022

There were beautiful displays of the Aurora Borealis (aka Northern Lights) during the last week of February.   I saw the great photos that people had taken. When I arrived in the Yukon on March first, the lights went out. I was not too concerned at first. I thought they would reappear in a few days. For several days I got up in the middle of the night and went out looking for it, but no luck. After two weeks, I worried that I might never see it. Only one month to go before they disappear for the summer.

 Finally, on 18 March, the lights reappeared. It only lasted about half an hour, at 1 a.m., but it was spectacular for that short time. I thought the lights would be only in one direction, but they stretched from the horizon, overhead, and halfway to the ground behind me.

There were long streaks of dark green, which constantly danced and changed shape. The background sky was dark blue, not black, with many twinkling stars. In 30 minutes, it was gone, but it was magnificent while it lasted.   It was not very dark as there was a full moon, which made it bright enough to see my shadow on the ground.

 It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. But seeing it is tiring. You have to be out in the middle of the night. It could be anytime when it is dark. There is no telling when they may appear, but mostly, it is between midnight and 3 a.m. So forget getting a good night’s sleep. They sometimes make surprise appearances. I was told they appeared for another incredible display at 7 a.m.   I was sound asleep at that time.

Dress very warm. The lights are beautiful, but it could be minus 35 degrees, and they will not keep you warm.

What causes the Aurora Borealis?

There is a long scientific explanation, but suffice to say, it is caused by collisions of electrically charged particles from the sun with the earth’s atmosphere. You can find all the technical details on the internet if you want. But, for me, that is enough of an explanation. I just wanted to enjoy the beauty of it.

Where to see the Aurora Borealis?

The Northern Lights can sometimes be seen as far south as the United States, but for the best light shows, you need to be in the north; the closer to the Arctic Circle, the better.

When to see the Aurora Borealis?

The Aurora Borealis appears mostly on frigid, clear nights during mid-winter (early December to the end of February). So if you come to the north especially to see the Northern Lights, I would come during that period. But they could appear at any anytime during the winter nights.

There is a website that predicts the appearance of the Northern Lights. It also shows the location in North America. The lights usually appear in a broad band across Fairbanks, Alaska and Dawson, Yukon in northern Canada. It also rates the chances of seeing at as a number out of ten. But keep in mind that the forecast is for the entire Arctic. It may be cloudy in your area, and you will not see it. The forecast is a good guide, but the Aurora is primarily unpredictable.

http://www.auroraborealisyukon.com/auroracast/

Note that this is a tourism website. Click on “auroacast” for Northern Lights predictions. They can also arrange tours for you. No affiliation with mythatchedhut.

It is freezing in the Arctic during winter, which is not fun, but seeing the Aurora Borealis is worth putting up with the cold. It is one of the most incredible sights of nature. You should do it.

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