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How do auroras form?

 

What are the Northern Lights? And how can you see them?

 

The Northern Lights are a stunning display of glowing, swirling lights in the night sky that have amazed humankind for thousands of years. hese lights appear in places close to the North Pole, while a similar display called the Southern Lights (aurora australis) happens near the South Pole. But what causes them? And how can you see them?

 

A vivid photograph captures the Northern Lights glowing over a quiet coastal landscape at night. The sky is filled with sweeping bands of green, pink, and deep red aurora light stretching across the horizon. The colours blend and rise in vertical curtains, creating a dramatic display against a dark, star‑speckled sky. Below the aurora, calm water reflects the green glow, giving the sea a luminous sheen. A stone pier extends from the right side of the image, ending with a small beacon or lamp casting a soft white light onto the water. Rocky shoreline and pools of shallow water fill the foreground, while distant hills and a small cluster of lights from buildings sit on the left side, indicating a quiet coastal community. The overall scene is serene, colourful, and atmospheric, showing the aurora sweeping over a peaceful harbour at night.The Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis)

 

 

What causes the Northern Lights?

 

According to NASA, the Northern Lights are caused by charged particles from the Sun that travel through space and reach Earth. When these particles hit gases in our atmosphere, energy is released as bright lights. The most stunning auroras happen when the Sun sends out huge clouds of particles, called "coronal mass ejections". Imagine the Sun sneezing out a huge amount of particles towards Earth!

 

A scientific illustration shows Earth at the centre, surrounded by its magnetic field and labelled magnetospheric regions. The Sun sits on the left, emitting a stream of yellow solar wind particles that travel towards Earth. The solar wind strikes the front of Earth’s magnetic field, creating a curved, compressed boundary labelled “Bow Shock,” followed by a thin boundary called the “Magnetopause.” Surrounding this area is the “Magnetosheath,” shown as a turbulent, layered region between the solar wind and Earth’s magnetosphere. Earth’s magnetic field lines are drawn as smooth, blue arcs flowing around the planet, compressed on the sun‑facing side and stretched into a long tail on the opposite side. Two coloured, doughnut‑shaped radiation belts encircle Earth: the “Inner Van Allen Belt” shown as a bright orange ring close to Earth’s surface, and the “Outer Van Allen Belt” shown as a larger, more diffused red and blue ring. Labels mark the “Magnetic North Pole” and “Magnetic South Pole” slightly offset from the “Geographic North Pole” and “Geographic South Pole.” Near the top of the planet, narrow funnel‑shaped openings in the magnetic field are labelled “Cusps.” On the night‑side of Earth, the field lines stretch into a long, tapered “Magnetotail,” which includes a central “Plasma Sheet,” drawn in red, running horizontally through the centre of the tail. The background is black, representing space, with faint stars scattered across it.A diagram (not to scale) of how the Earth’s magnetic field acts as a barrier against solar wind.

 

 

Why are the Northern Lights more common recently?

 

Recently, many more people have witnessed the Northern Lights, and there are a couple of reasons for this. The Sun is approaching the peak of its 11-year cycle, which brings an increase in sunspots and coronal mass ejections. As a result, more charged particles are reaching Earth. Since the last solar maximum in 2014, far more people now carry smartphones capable of capturing the aurora. Apps, social media and improved forecasting have also helped more of us know when to look.

 

Solar Maximum and Solar Minimum Comparison The image presents two pairs of side‑by‑side photographs of the Sun, illustrating how it appears during solar maximum and solar minimum. Each pair highlights a different aspect of solar activity. Sunspots at Solar Max and Min Left image (July 19, 2000 – Solar Maximum): The Sun shows numerous dark sunspots scattered across its surface. These blemishes mark areas of intense magnetic activity and indicate a highly active phase of the solar cycle. Right image (March 18, 2009 – Solar Minimum): The Sun’s surface appears smooth and almost featureless. No significant sunspots are visible, reflecting the low magnetic activity typical of a solar minimum. Ultraviolet Radiation at Solar Max and Min Left image (July 19, 2000 – Solar Maximum): In the ultraviolet view, the Sun looks extremely dynamic and turbulent. Bright, glowing regions and energetic loops dominate the surface, showing strong emissions of UV radiation. Right image (March 18, 2009 – Solar Minimum): The ultraviolet image is noticeably calmer. The Sun emits far fewer bright, active regions, consistent with reduced solar activity during a minimum.

Solar Maximum and Solar Minimum comparison

 

 

When can you see the Northern Lights?

 

The Northern Lights are best seen at night when the sky is clear. According to experts, the brightest lights usually appear between 23:00 and midnight local time. Remember, the lights often look brighter in photos because cameras can capture more light than our eyes.

 

You can check whether the Northern Lights will be visible in your area by using our free live aurora tracker.

 

A dark‑themed app dashboard titled “Aurora Tracker” displays real‑time aurora activity information for a selected location, shown in a dropdown at the top right as “England, UK”. A small green dot beside the title indicates that the data feed is live. The interface is divided into two main panels at the top: Global Activity (Kp Index) On the left is a circular gauge showing a Kp index of 3.67 out of 9. The gauge is mostly green, with a thick arc around the top of the circle. Beneath the number is a green status label reading “Quiet to Unsettled”, followed by the note “Auroras confined to polar regions.” A timestamp says “Last updated: 10:14:49 AM” with a button labelled “Refresh Now” below it. Local Probability On the right is a circular probability meter showing 0% chance of local aurora visibility. A grey label underneath reads “Unlikely”, followed by “Chance of visible aurora overhead right now.” Below these is a wide information panel headed “Viewing Advice for England, UK”. The advice text explains that auroral activity is currently too low to see from England. It states that the global Kp index is 3.7 and the local probability is 0%, noting that a Kp of around 6+ is usually needed for auroras at this latitude. A grey box beneath repeats: “Activity is currently too low to be visible in this region.” At the bottom of the panel are three small icons with short tips: “Find a dark spot away from city lights.” “Look towards the Northern horizon.” “Use a camera's long exposure.” The overall design uses cool tones of dark blue and grey with green highlights for active or positive values.

Live aurora tracker dashboard interface

 

How can you photograph the Northern Lights?

 

The image shows a silhouetted person holding up a mobile phone to capture a bright, vivid display of the Northern Lights. The aurora stretches across the sky in sweeping bands of green light, with subtle variations in brightness and form. The person appears to be outdoors at night, bundled against the cold, focusing their phone camera on the glowing sky above. The overall scene conveys a sense of wonder and the accessibility of photographing aurora displays using everyday devices.You can use a mobile phone to photograph the Northern Lights

 

  • Use a camera with a long exposure time and keep it very still (a tripod is helpful).
  • If using a phone, switch off the flash, select night mode, and set the exposure time to 3–5 seconds.
  • Keep your phone very still while taking the photo.
  • Some camera apps allow you to adjust settings like shutter speed, ISO, and exposure length for better results.

 

 

Why do the Northern Lights have different colours?

 

Different gases in the Earth's atmosphere create different colours when they are hit by solar particles; UCAR explains that:

 

  • Oxygen makes green lights (the most common colour).
  • Nitrogen creates purple, blue, and pink lights (these are rarer).
  • Oxygen at higher altitudes can produce red lights. These are usually only visible during intense solar storms.

 

 

An infographic explains how different aurora colours form at various altitudes in Earth’s atmosphere. At the top left, a simplified illustration shows the Sun emitting solar wind toward Earth. Curved lines represent Earth’s magnetic field directing these charged particles toward the poles. On the right side, four vertical bands display stylised auroras in red, green, purple and pink, and blue. Each band is semi-transparent with smooth, curtain-like shapes against a dark starry sky. Next to each aurora type, text labels describe altitude ranges in both miles and kilometres, the responsible atmospheric gas, and the conditions that produce the colour. At the highest altitude, above 150 miles (241 km), a red aurora glows. It is labelled as excited atomic oxygen at high altitude, visible when intense solar activity excites sparse oxygen atoms. Below that, between 60 and 150 miles (96.6 to 241 km), a bright green aurora appears. It is labelled as excited atomic oxygen at lower altitude, noted as the most common aurora colour due to the greater abundance of oxygen and the amount of energy available. Lower still, under 60 miles (96.6 km), a purple and pink aurora is shown. It is attributed to ionised molecular nitrogen, which becomes visible during stronger solar storms. At a similar lower altitude, another aurora band shines blue. It is also caused by ionised molecular nitrogen and is noted as the lowest visible colour, typically appearing during strong solar particle events. The overall layout combines diagrams, coloured labels and atmospheric height markers to illustrate clearly how altitude and gas type determine the colour of auroras.

How auroras get their colours

 

 

Where can you see the Northern Lights?

 

The Northern Lights are most often seen in places close to the North Pole, such as Scandinavia, Greenland, Alaska, Canada, and Russia. If the Sun sends out a big enough burst of particles, the lights can be visible in places much further south—even as far as the Caribbean!

 

A split image shows two globes side by side against a black background, illustrating how auroras form around Earth’s polar regions. The globe on the left depicts the Northern Hemisphere, labelled “Northern Hemisphere (Aurora Borealis)”. The globe on the right shows the Southern Hemisphere, labelled “Southern Hemisphere (Aurora Australis)”. Each globe displays concentric coloured rings surrounding the geomagnetic poles. At the centre of each image is a white, ice‑covered polar landmass: Greenland and the Arctic ice for the north, and Antarctica for the south. A small red pin marks the “Geomagnetic North Pole” on the left globe and the “Geomagnetic South Pole” on the right. Around each pole is a bright green ring labelled “Aurora Oval”, indicating the region where auroras most commonly appear. Encircling the green ring is a wider yellowish band labelled “Sub Auroral Oval Zone”. Beyond that is a larger orange band labelled “Solar Storm Zone”, showing where auroral activity may extend during periods of intense solar activity. The coloured rings gradually fade into the natural blues and browns of the Earth’s oceans and continents. Text at the top reads “Aurora Oval Map”Global arora oval map

 

Scientists use the Kp-index to predict visibility, as detailed by the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center. Below are maps showing the most southern extent of where aurora borealis might be observable for different levels of the geomagnetic Kp index (and G-scale). These limits are approximate, considering the averaged relationship between Kp and the auroral latitude, and indicate regions from which aurora may be visible (not necessarily overhead, but sometimes only at the northern horizon).

 

A split graphic shows two illuminated globes side by side against a dark space background, illustrating how the geomagnetic Kp index relates to auroral visibility at different latitudes. The left globe displays North America, and the right globe shows Europe, northern Africa and parts of Asia. Both globes are overlaid with curved latitude lines drawn in bright colours. Each line is labelled with a Kp value, from Kp0 near the poles to Kp9 closer to the equator. The colours progress from pale green through yellow, orange, red and finally purple, indicating increasing geomagnetic storm intensity. The lines curve downwards following Earth’s magnetic field and show how stronger geomagnetic storms push auroral activity towards lower latitudes. Between the two globes is a small legend linking Kp values to the NOAA G‑scale: G0 (Kp5) – Quiet G1 (Kp5) – Minor Storm G2 (Kp6) – Moderate Storm G3 (Kp7) – Strong Storm G4 (Kp8) – Severe Storm G5 (Kp9) – Extreme Storm Each category is colour‑coded in a matching gradient. Along the bottom is a horizontal bar that spans from “High Latitude” on the left to “Low Latitude” on the right, with Kp levels labelled below (Kp0 to Kp9).Geomagnetic Kp Index and G-Scale Map

 

 

Where is the best place to see the Northern Lights in the UK?

 

In the UK, the best chances to see the Northern Lights are in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and northern England. However, sometimes they are seen further south, like in Kent, Dorset, or even London, especially during strong solar activity.

 

Nothern Lights as seen across fields in Kent.During extreme solar storms, the Northern Light can be as visible as far south as Kent

 

 

Which month is best to see the Northern Lights?

 

The biggest displays of the Northern Lights often happen around the equinoxes (March-April and September-October). This is because there are more magnetic storms during these times.

 

A colourful infographic shows the best times of year to view the Northern Lights. At the top, a vivid illustration of green and blue aurora bands stretches across a dark night sky. Beneath it, the heading reads “Ultimate Guide: Best Time to View the Northern Lights” with the subtitle “Seasonal Optimisation for Peak Visibility.” A timeline runs from January to December, with each month represented by a rounded rectangular block. The months most favourable for aurora viewing—January, February, March, September, October, November, and December—are highlighted in bright green. The less favourable months—April through August—are shown in muted grey, indicating reduced visibility due to lighter nights or the midnight sun. At the bottom of the infographic, three explanatory icons and captions offer further detail: Winter Solstice & Peak Darkness: A blue icon of a person looking up at the sky. The text explains that the long, dark nights of winter maximise visibility and provide the most consistent conditions for viewing the Northern Lights. Summer & Midnight Sun: An icon of a bright sun over the words “Midnight Sun.” The caption notes that visibility is limited in summer because of shorter nights, bright twilight, or continuous daylight. Equinox Effect & Activity Increase: An icon of the Earth with auroral rings around it. The text states that solar activity tends to be stronger around the equinoxes, making March and September particularly active months with a good balance of darkness and auroral activity. The overall design uses cool colours, clear icons, and simple visual cues to show how aurora visibility changes throughout the year.Best months to see the Northern Lights

 

Are the Aurora Borealis and the Northern Lights the same?

 

Yes! "Aurora borealis" is the scientific name for the Northern Lights. The name comes from the Roman goddess of dawn, Aurora, and the Greek god of the north wind, Boreas.

 

 

Where is the best place to go on holiday to see the Northern Lights?

 

The Northern Lights are seen most reliably in the "auroral zone" around the Earth's North Pole. Great places to visit include northern Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Greenland, Canada, Alaska, and northern Russia.

 

A night-time photograph taken in Iceland in March 2025, showing vivid green aurora borealis sweeping across the sky in wide, flowing arcs. The aurora forms a twisting, luminous ribbon that curves above a small, single‑storey house with a red roof and pale exterior walls. The house sits in a dark, rocky landscape illuminated faintly by the glow of the aurora and a bright full moon on the right. Stars are visible through gaps in the auroral light, and thin clouds hover near the horizon. The scene feels remote and peaceful, dominated by the striking natural light display overhead.The Northern Lights (as seen from Iceland)

 

 

Quick Facts

 

  • The Northern Lights happen when charged particles from the Sun interact with gases in Earth's atmosphere.
  • They are most common near the North Pole but can sometimes be seen much further south.
  • The best time to see them is at night, especially around midnight, and more often near the equinoxes.
  • Green is the most common colour, but red, pink, and purple are possible too.

 

 

Useful Resources

 

 

 

Further Reading & Scientific Sources

 

To explore more about the physics of the Aurora and real-time space weather tracking, we recommend these authoritative resources:

 

 

Videos

 

For a visual breakdown of how charged particles interact with the Earth's magnetic field, watch this educational guide from NASA: Video: Space Weather and Earth's Aurora (NASA)

 

🔬 Knowledge Check: How Auroras Form

Test your understanding of the interaction between the Sun and Earth's magnetic field that creates the Northern and Southern Lights.

1. What is the stream of charged particles released from the Sun called?

2. Which scientific name is used specifically for the 'Southern Lights'?

3. What part of the Earth's environment funnels charged particles toward the poles?

4. What is actually happening when the sky glows during an aurora?

5. Why do we see different colours, such as green or red, in an aurora?

Click to Reveal Answers
1. Solar Wind (The constant stream of particles from the Sun). 2. Aurora Australis (Australis refers to the southern hemisphere). 3. The Earth's Magnetic Field (It acts like a funnel directing particles to the poles). 4. Solar particles colliding with gas atoms (This collision releases energy as light). 5. Different types of gas atoms at different heights (Oxygen and nitrogen produce different colours when hit).

 

 

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