The northern lights, one of several astronomical phenomena called

polar lights (aurora polaris), are shafts or curtains of colored light

visible on occasion in the night sky.
Polar lights (aurora polaris) are a natural phenomenon found in both the northern and
southern hemispheres that can be truly awe inspiring. Northern lights are also called by
their scientific name,aurora borealis, and southern lights are called aurora australis.
Sten Odenwald, author of The 23rd cycle, learning to live with a stormy star (New York,
Columbia University Press, c2001), provides insight to how northern lights are formed:
The origin of the aurora begins on the surface of the sun when solar activity ejects a cloud
of gas. Scientists call this a coronal mass ejection (CME). If one of these reaches earth,
taking about 2 to 3 days, it collides with the Earths magnetic field. This field is invisible,
and if you could see its shape, it would make Earth look like a comet with a long magnetic
tail stretching a million miles behind Earth in the opposite direction of the sun.
When a coronal mass ejection collides with the magnetic field, it causes complex changes to
happen to the magnetic tail region. These changes generate currents of charged particles,
which then flow along lines of magnetic force into the Polar Regions. These particles are
boosted in energy in Earths upper atmosphere, and when they collide with oxygen and
nitrogen atoms, they produce dazzling auroral light.
Odenwald further tells us "Aurora are beautiful, but the invisible flows of particles and
magnetism that go on at the same time can damage our electrical power grid and satellites
operating in space. This is why scientists are so keen to understand the physics of aurora
and solar storms, so we can predict when our technologies may be affected."
Can I see them anywhere?
Yes. Although more frequent at higher latitudes, closer to the poles (such as in Canada,
Alaska, Antarctica), they have been seen closer to the equator as far south as Mexico. To
view them, look in the direction of the closest pole (the northern horizon in the northern
hemisphere, the southern horizon in the southern hemisphere).
Can I see them at any time of the year?
Yes. In some areas, such as Alaska or Greenland, they may be visible most nights of the
year. And they occur at any time of the day, but we cant see them with the naked eye
unless its dark.
What causes the colors and patterns?
Colors and patterns are from the types of ions or atoms being energized as they collide with
the atmosphere and are affected by lines of magnetic force. Displays may take many forms,
including rippling curtains, pulsating globs, traveling pulses, or steady glows. Altitude affects
the colors. Blue violet/reds occur below 60 miles (100 km), with bright green strongest
between 60-150 miles (100-240 km). Above 150 miles (240 km) ruby reds appear.
Fun Facts about northern lights:

According to Neil Bone (The aurora: sun-earth interactions, 1996), the term aurora
borealis--northern dawn--is jointly credited to have first been used by Pierre
Gassendi (1592-1655) and Galileo Galilei (1564-1642), who both witnessed a light

display on Sept. 12, 1621. However, Bone also includes a description of the northern
lights made 1,000 years prior by Gregory of Tours (538-594.) It included the phrase,
"... so bright that you might have thought that day was about to dawn."
Auroras have been observed since ancient times.
The height of the displays can occur up to 1000 km (620 miles), although most are
between 80-120 km.
Auroras tend to be more frequent and spectacular during high solar sunspot activity,
which cycles over approximately eleven years.
Some displays are particularly spectacular and widespread and have been
highlighted in news accounts. Examples include auroral storms of August-September,
1859, Feb 11, 1958, (lights 1250 miles wide circled the Arctic from Oregon to New
Hampshire) and March 13, 1989, (the whole sky turned a vivid red and the aurora
was seen in Europe and North America as far south as Cuba).
Legends abound in northern cultures to explain the northern lights. Some North
American Inuit call the aurora aqsarniit(football players) and say the spirits of the
dead are playing football with the head of a walrus. Often legends warn children that
the lights might come down and snatch them away.
June 1896, Norwegian Kristian Birkeland, the father of modern auroral science,
suggested the theory that electrons from sunspots triggered auroras.
Yellowknife (Northwest Territories, Canada) is the capital for aurora tourism.
The earliest known account of northern lights appears to be from a Babylonian clay
tablet from observations made by the official astronomers of King Nebuchadnezzar
II, 568/567 BC.
Some people claim to hear noises associated with the northern lights, but
documenting this phenomenon has been difficult.