Aurora Borealis
Is typically the time period with the highest probability of seeing spectacular auroral displays over interior.
Aurora borealis. Auroras or aurorae sometimes referred to as polar lights aurora polaris northern lights aurora borealis or southern lights aurora australis is a natural light display in the earth s sky predominantly seen in high latitude regions around the arctic and antarctic. Indeed the aurora borealis is visible most nights weather permitting within a band several hundred miles wide that s centered at about 66 degrees north about the same latitude as the arctic. If you live across portions of the northern u s keep your eyes to the sky over the next few.
The aurora borealis is also known as the northern lights or polar lights. Curtains of color paint the night sky when the northern lights or aurora borealis are visible. Active auroral displays tend to be more diffuse and fragmented later in the night which means that 9 p m.
As early as 1616 the astronomer galileo galilei used the name aurora borealis to describe them taking the name of the mythical roman goddess of the dawn aurora and the greek name for wind of. It s the result of a geomagnetic storm caused by the sun s. Alaska is the best place in the us to see this natural phenomenon.
The aurora australis is the southern hemisphere counterpart to the aurora borealis. Peak viewing times to see the aurora borealis in canada are between december and march. The best time to watch for aurora is the three or four hours around midnight but aurora occurs throughout the night.
The aurora borealis commonly referred to as the northern lights are the result of interactions between the sun and earth s outer atmosphere. The aurora borealis or northern lights will be visible over minnesota this week the weather channel tweeted on its pattrn account. Aurora the aurora borealis northern lights and aurora australis southern lights are the result of electrons colliding with the upper reaches of earth s atmosphere.
Some early reports had suggested they would be viewable as far south as illinois this week.