By: Ethan Pi
The acrid scent of fumes enters your nostrils. As you escape the wrath of the mischievous flames in the fireplace and squirm your way out of the cabin door, you notice a peculiar whirlpool of glowing green light spiraling in the night sky that you are unable to identify. Is it a virtue of God? Are aliens creating this vivid nonsense? Or is it the fiery breath of a dragon telling us it’s time to die? Well, odds are: None of the above! This fascinating light show you just paused to look at is indeed the Northern Lights, otherwise known as the Aurora Borealis in Greek.
The name Aurora Borealis comes from the name of the Roman Goddess of the Dawn, Aurora, and the Greek name for Wind of the North, Boreas. If you ever stopped to think that this majestic gleam was sent from the Heavens, you’re not alone! In the past, the Northern Lights were thought to be caused by anything from sea monsters to dragons to spirits of loved ones, and even the spirits of enemies killed in combat.
Today, the Auroras commonly occur within the area beneath the auroral oval, which is anywhere near the Arctic and Antarctic Circles. These natural phenomena occur often, happening on average one to two times a day. Although it is a “frequent enough” experience for us humans to glance at, the best time to view this wonderful glow is during the winter season, which lasts from September to late March or even early April. When it is dark enough, the lights shine their radiance through the night from 5pm to 2am. However, these lights fade away easily, and a good display only lasts for 30 minutes max. If you happen to be lucky, they could last a couple of hours.
The Northern Lights don’t only gleam at the North Pole. There is also the Aurora Australis, also known as the Southern Lights, and you guessed it, these lights occur at the South Pole throughout the year. In fact, this luminescence also occurs on other planets in our solar system too! Such planets include Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. These lights have also been seen and discovered at their poles as well.
The Auroras are generated from the Sun’s massive and blinding rays of light. Solar storms force billions of microscopic, charged atoms and particles towards the Earth at over one million miles per hour. Luckily, our planet is caged and fenced with an invisible magnetic field that shields us from these harmful substances. However, the magnetic field lines come closest and strongest to Earth near the Poles. Many of these charged atoms travel along these lines and enter our planet’s atmosphere. Here, the particles react with the thick gas molecules that surround our atmosphere, creating a beautiful maze of colors illuminating the night sky, which we see below Earth.
The eerie night seems awfully quiet and peaceful. Look into the great outdoors, roast some marshmallows on the campfire, set up the tent, and BOOM! Before you know it, an oozy green color engulfs the sky and nearby stars. However, it’s not some supernatural power from evil spirits or the haze of smoke from a hovercraft. It’s a natural wonder known as the Aurora Borealis, a thick spiral of vivid shades that brings any Arctic evening sky to life. Although myths have told us that this mystical and magical hue originated from the bodies of spirits or even monsters, the Northern Lights remain a meaningful sight and prove to be more than just a natural phenomenon.