See the Aurora Borealis!
The light show of a lifetime
This nighttime event is coming soon
Only seen around the Arctic Circle, the northern lights are a breathtaking site like no other. It's worth the cold wait to see a rainbow of swiftly moving colors dance before your eyes!
Event Information
The Aurora Borealis
When?
Wednesday, Jan 14, 2015, 12:00 AM
Where?
Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park and Preserve, United States
Preparations
- Dress for the cold climate
- Come anytime from late November to March
- Travel by plane to avoid crossing countries
- Make sure to be near or in the arctic circle
Cause
It actually comes from the process of when charged particles from the sun's atmosphere collide against Earth's atmosphere. The color depends on the type of gas particles colliding.
Predicting
Predicting an aurora is hard. First, see if there are any active solar storms. Next, using a KP map, check and see if you are at or above the estimated KP line. If you aren't, then you may have to look at the horizon for it.
You can go anywhere!
It doesn't just have to be one spot to see the lights. Anywhere within the green, red, and yellow on the map above is a great place to see the lights!
Telling the Difference
Make sure to know the difference between the Aurora Borealis and the Aurora Australis! Even though both auroras are formed the same way on either side of the earth, the Borealis is located in the north, and the Australis in the south.