15 Common Misconceptions About the Northern Lights
Nature’s own good dance, the Northern Lights, has always been a source of myth and legend. While their wonder is undeniable, this natural phenomenon has plenty of misconceptions that need a little clearing up. The auroras are often misunderstood, from their cause to the best time and place to see them, and many people believe something far from the scientific truth.
Appreciating their beauty is not enough to understand these lights, you need to know the facts. Let’s untangle some of the most common myths and set the record straight, which will hopefully make your next auroral hunt as informed, as it is awe-inspiring.
They Only Occur in Winter
Despite the myth, the Northern Lights aren’t exclusive to winter. Solar activity happens year round, and is what causes the auroras. Darkness is the key, and the long winter nights give a better backdrop to look at those lights. You can also spot them in early fall or late spring, around equinoxes when the darkness is enough to see them clearly.
Best Seen at the North Pole
You might think that you need to go to the ends of the Earth to see the Northern Lights, but that’s not quite right. They are more often seen in the polar regions, but can sometimes be seen further south. Residents of Washington and Idaho in the USA have reported sightings of the aurora during periods of strong solar activity.
Photos Have Enhanced Colors
It’s true that photography brings out wonderful hues that the naked eye wouldn’t necessarily see, but the idea that all Northern Light images are heavily edited is not true. In low light, cameras can capture colors brighter, but during high solar activity, they can be seen directly with the naked eye when they show intense displays of the aurora.
They Make Sound
It’s one of the more charming myths, that the Northern Lights make a sound. Some anecdotal reports say that a swish or crackling noise accompanies the lights, but most scientists agree there is no direct audio phenomenon with the aurora. In the rare instances, sounds are reported they are most likely due to natural surroundings or other environmental noises.
Solar Flares Are Needed
Solar flares can indeed boost the aurora, but the Northern Lights don’t need them to happen. The phenomenon is caused by the Earth’s magnetic field interacting with charged particles from the sun, but it doesn’t always happen with the dramatic flair of a solar flare. At other times, even during periods of low solar activity, the Northern Lights can appear, just not as brightly.
Predictable Schedules
There’s something whimsical and misleading about the idea that the Northern Lights behave like a train or a bus, on a predictable schedule. While auroras are notoriously hard to predict with any precision, they can be forecasted in general. Solar cycles also come in periods of higher or lower activity, which can give some indication of how likely you are to see the lights.
They Are Always Spectacular
Sometimes, sensational photos and tales of vivid displays can run up expectations. However, aurora visibility and intensity vary widely. There may be nights with only a faint glow, or other nights with full spectral show. It is highly variable, and dependent on many atmospheric factors.
A Summer Phenomenon
The Northern Lights are thought to be visible in places like Iceland or Scandinavia where the sun barely sets in the height of summer. In these regions during summer months, the Midnight Sun makes it impossible to see them. We need darkness so the lights are visible.
Every Aurora Display Is Unique
No two auroral displays are alike, like fingerprints. Atmospheric conditions, solar winds, and geomagnetic activity vary from appearance to appearance, making each one unique. No two displays are ever the same, veteran aurora watchers will tell you.
Visibility Is prevented by the Full Moon
A bright full moon will obliterate dimmer stars, but the Northern Lights can be seen on a full moon. The auroras are strong enough that you could see them, even with a luminous full moon. You’ll always have a better viewing experience under a darker sky.
City Viewing Is Possible
Some urban myths suggest that you can catch the aurora from city limits. Light pollution doesn’t agree with this. To give yourself the best chance of seeing the Northern Lights, you need to get away from city lights to darker areas. To catch the fainter glows of the aurora, you need the contrast of the dark sky.
Always in the Northern Hemisphere
The Southern Lights are the Aurora Australis, the counterpart of the Northern Lights. The Southern Lights are less famous, not because they aren’t as beautiful, but because they occur mostly around the Antarctic where there aren’t as many people to observe them.
They Appear Suddenly
A Northern Lights display usually builds up gradually. They may begin as a faint glow, and grow to full display before fading again. As the night goes on, patience is often rewarded with a more spectacular show.
They Can Be Seen From Space
The Northern Lights are visible from space, and from the International Space Station, they’re quite breathtaking. Moreover, this shows that solar energy does not only have a great scale but forms a sophisticated interaction with our planet’s protective magnetic field.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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