The stream of particles interacts with gases in the magnetic field the magnetosphere , generating magnificent auroras. When solar activity decreases, the oval returns to its normal position and the auroras become less intense.
Also, because of the solar wind, sometimes the magnetic field lines reconnect on the side of Earth opposite the Sun. They snap back like an elastic band, sending large amounts of energy back towards Earth's poles. This phenomenon, called magnetic reconnection , creates stunning displays of aurora. A coronal mass ejection CME is an enormous expulsion of plasma and magnetic field from the Sun's outermost atmosphere.
As we sail towards the Arctic Circle, your chance of seeing the Northern Lights improves, but there are a lot of factors to consider when hunting the lights. Read our Northern Lights FAQ and learn how you can increase your chances of catching a glimpse of this awe-inspiring light show in the sky. Get unique insight and knowledge about the Arctic sky and the greatest lightshow on Earth, the Aurora Borealis, on the popular Astronomy Voyage along the mesmerising Norwegian Coast.
This limited voyage is accompanied by special lecturers - experts on astronomy and expeditions to see the Northern Lights. Read more about our Astronomy Voyage. Covid Updated information.
Hurtigruten Group Go to Hurtigruten Expeditions. Go to Norwegian Coastal Express. What causes the Northern Lights? This solar wind drifts away from the Sun through space, carrying tiny particles called protons and electrons.
Protons and electrons are some of the tiny building blocks that make up most of the stuff in the universe, like plants and chocolate and me and you. Think of the smallest Lego bricks you have in your toy box, which can be stuck together to make bigger things - these are what protons and electrons and neutrons too are to the universe.
These particles carry lots of energy from the Sun, on their journey through space. We can only see the northern lights at times when the solar wind is strong enough.
The magnetic field forces the solar wind away, and makes it travel around the Earth instead. The magnetic field interacts with the solar wind and guides the protons and electrons down towards Earth along the magnetic field, away from the middle of the planet and toward the north and south poles. Because of this, we get both northern and southern lights — also known as the aurora borealis and the aurora australis. When the solar wind gets past the magnetic field and travels towards the Earth, it runs into the atmosphere.
Auroras occur on other planets, too — all that's required to make an aurora is an atmosphere and a magnetic field. Seeing the northern lights with your own eyes is a bucket-list item for astronomy lovers and travelers alike. Fortunately, they occur frequently. But that doesn't mean they're easy to spot; you need to be at the right place at the right time. That's where the aurora most frequently occurs, though the phenomenon can creep farther south during particularly strong solar storms.
Within the zone, it's best to be as far away from city lights as possible to maximize visibility. But it's pretty tricky to get into the middle of the Arctic wilderness, even with a guide, so it's best to base yourself in a destination with solid infrastructure, like Fairbanks, Alaska; Yellowknife, Canada; Svalbard, Norway; Abisko National Park, in Sweden; Rovaniemi, Finland; and pretty much anywhere in Iceland.
Related: Where to see the northern lights: aurora borealis guide. The best time of year to see the northern lights is between September and April, when the sky gets dark enough to see the aurora.
Northern locales experience the midnight sun, or 24 hours of daylight in the summer. The most action usually happens between 9 p. Keep the moon phases in mind, as a bright full moon might fill the night sky with light.
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