So realistically if you are hoping to catch a glimpse of this light show then you stand a much better chance the further south you head. A general view of the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights between Jokelfjord and Alteidet on March 29, 2017, in Troms, Norway. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up for free and you can get a text message or phone call when it is time to head outside and enjoy the display. Glacier National Park. The Aurora is caused by solar particles entering the earth’s atmosphere. PLUS a free mini-magazine for you to download and keep. The Northern Lights over southern England in the last few days have made people wonder if a second showing is due. In Anchorage you can get a notification direct to your phone if the aurora is active! Well obviously this depends on the strength of the Aurora Australis. To observers at far-northern latitudes, the Lights are a frequent occurrence, but many who live in more temperate climates have never seen them, even though they are occasionally seen as far south as 35 degrees North latitude. Normally they are not seen much further south than the Canadian border (49th parallel). For many this is a once in a lifetime event that requires the right conditions and some real luck. Look out for your Lunchtime Genius newsletter in your inbox soon. THE PROBLEM WITH SEEING THE AURORA: In a year where there are high levels of activity you can often see the lights from New Zealand, South Australia and Southern America. While you can see the aurora borealis at latitudes as far south as NYC (when solar and geomagnetic activity peak), the northern lights are most frequently visible in Northern Europe between the 66°N and 69°N latitudes. It has happened before and will probably happen again. Obviously you need clear skies for the best viewing and also long nights of darkness. What’s the biggest man-made hole in the world? Already have an account with us? Sign in to manage your newsletter preferences. Best places to view northern lights near Toronto. Enjoy the warm atmosphere of an Icelandic farm, get to know the locals, explore nearby natural attractions by day and hunt for the Northern Lights by night. If there is a level 7 event then on in the south of New Zealand you may even get to see the lights dancing overhead. The strength of the lights will depend on how many of these particles are going to collide with the atmosphere. So first of all it is important to understand how the Southern Lights actually work. 6 issues for £9.99 when you subscribe to BBC Science Focus Magazine. Your best bet to see the Aurora Borealis is usually to get close to the Earth's northern magnetic pole, but just how far south has it reached? https://www.visittheusa.com/experience/5-places-see-northern-lights-usa Receive every issue delivered direct to your door with FREE UK delivery. This oval is known as the \"aurora oval\". The map above or one from the SWPC in September, however, can provide a little context for how far south you might be able to see the northern lights during a G3 geomagnetic storm. Three miles of shoreline along Lake Huron create plenty of opportunities to see … It will follow certain patterns and sometimes behave differently to other times. Aurora Pictures: Rare Northern Lights Seen in U.S. South In a rare treat for sky-watchers, an intense geomagnetic storm Monday spawned blood-red auroras as far south … Your best chance of seeing the Southern Lights is to get on a cruse ship and head as far south as possible. Up in … Historians have uncovered evidence suggesting that the southern hemisphere counterpart of the Northern Lights, the Aurora Australis, may have been witnessed even closer to the equator, with reports of the phenomenon being seen from Samoa in 1921, at a latitude of 13° south, and a disputed report from Singapore at just 8° south during the storm of 25 September 1909. On the tip of South America you should catch a glimpse and even on the very bottom end of South Africa you may be able to see something. You can stay at an Icelandic farm for a few days to maximise your chances of seeing the Northern Lights away from the city lights. Get 6 issues for £9.99 when you subscribe to BBC Science Focus Magazine. Our daily newsletter arrives just in time for lunch, offering up the day's biggest science news, our latest features, amazing Q&As and insightful interviews. The Port Crescent State Park Dark Sky Preserve is a perfect place to see the stars and northern lights. Northern Lights on the list? Glacier National Park is often called the “Crown Jewel of the Continent.” There … There were several large solar storms in 2012 which gave us very high activity levels and made viewing possible from quite a long way north. Pennsylvania. Also, if you're not sure which way is north, don't forget to bring a compass. This is though to be around every thirteen years. In cities farther north, like New York and Seattle, the light show may be overhead. Another issue can be moonlight, if there is a full moon this decrease the chances of a good viewing due to the strong moonlight. The main difference between the two is that the southern one is far harder to spot due to the fact that there is very little land mass that reaches far enough south. How much does human breathing contribute to climate change? This runs from 0kp right up to 9kp which is the maximum strength. The Southern Lights or Aurora Australis at is it also known is the geomagnetic phenomenon that can sometimes light up the skies if the far Southern hemisphere. Both the Northern Lights and the Southern Lights are measured on a scale. Then we will tell you a few of the best places to spot a spectacular Southern Lights show from. What about in the extreme case of a level 9kp index. The northern lights are one of the most awe-inspiring sights you can see with your feet planted on Earth. However in 2012 we had a few nights where the Aurora almost reached an 8kp level which is very high and did make for some impressive displays. Photo: Maria Macdonald, Taigh Mairi Anndra self-catering holiday cottage, South Uist Read our top tips on how to view the Northern Lights and then take a holiday to Scotland to see this breath-taking natural spectacle.. Make 2021 or 2022, the year you see the Northern Lights in Scotland. Listen to some of the brightest names in science and technology talk about the ideas and breakthroughs shaping our world. Historians have uncovered evidence suggesting that the southern hemisphere counterpart of the Northern Lights, the Aurora Australis, may have been witnessed even closer to the equator, with reports of the phenomenon being seen from Samoa in 1921, at a latitude of 13° south, and a disputed report from Singapore at just 8° south during the storm of 25 September 1909. Crater Lake is by far one of the best places to see the lights when you’re in Oregon because this destination is far from the city lights and pollution so it’s an ideal location to view the Northern Lights and get some excellent views of the Milky Way. On the rare occasion that the kp index reaches 8, something that maybe happens once every few years, then you can see the Southern Lights from quite a few places. To see the northern lights in British Columbia, you’ll need to get away from more than the city. In 2001, during one of these solar flares, people as far south as … So how far North can you see them from if this does become a reality? Some extend lengthwise across the sky for thousands of miles," according to NASA. Most auroras occur about 50 to 200 miles above the Earth. The Northern Lights Could Be Visible Incredibly Far South This Weekend - … Displays here happen every now and again and there is often something visible on the horizon. Yet at times of high solar activity, they can be seen much further south: during the great solar storm of August and September 1859, the colours typical of aurorae were seen in Honolulu, just 21° north of the equator. When there has been a solar storm and the kp level reaches around the 7 mark, then you should be able to see something from the tip of Australia. A forecast reaching up to nine is an extremely rare event which may only happen once in a lifetime. Our friends at aurora.cam use advanced image recognition technology to detect a display of the northern lights in real-time. There are places where you can get an Aurora forecast from. Subscribe to BBC Focus magazine for fascinating new Q&As every month and follow @sciencefocusQA on Twitter for your daily dose of fun science facts. Maybe if you get away from all the light pollution you may even see something from the Melbourne area, but for this to be the case conditions really need to be perfect. So the Aurora is sometimes compared to the weather. You don't need to face a certain direction as the northern lights tend to be visible throughout the entire sky. Best spot: In your own caravan -- ideally with a cup of tea. Could the ocean ever become too salty for life to exist? As far north as Perth in Australia you may be able to see something on the horizon. Is the Great Wall of China really visible from space? Because the same exact phenomenon can be seen in the southern hemisphere, only it's called the Aurora Australis. Cairngorms National Park, Scotland. You would even be able to see something on the horizon as far north as Madagascar. Is there a place on Earth where no life exists? When there is a large solar storm you usually find a few days later the activity level will start to increase. So just how far north can you see the Southern Lights from? If the level reaches up to 6 then you should be able to see something from Tasmania, maybe even from Hobart if you get away from the light pollution. For more information about how to do this, and how Immediate Media Company Limited (publisher of Science Focus) holds your personal information, please see our privacy policy. Where to See the Northern Lights in Oregon. So summer time is not when you are going to see something. Or more to the point, how far North does the Aurora reach? Aurora displays aren't strongest at the North Magnetic Pole; the area of greatest aurora activity is usually right under the aurora oval, which cha… So how strong an Aurora do you need in order to see something. Being a Northern Lights specialist has its perks, and I’ve travelled far … The northern lights will be visible as far south as Wisconsin and Michigan over Labor Day weekend By Ryan Prior , CNN Published 8:10 PM EDT, Thu August 29, 2019 Dr. Ian Griffin, an astronomer who is the director of the Otago Museum in Dunedin – one of the most southernmost cities in New Zealand – has long been tracking the lights. Gordon’s Park Eco Reserve located in the northern part of Manitoulin Island is another great spot to observe the northern lights … Robert is a science writer and visiting professor of science at Aston University. The Southern Aurora is something that very few people are privileged to witness. Even if you are just outside those lines, you may see something on the horizon. Just 150 miles south of the Arctic Circle, the city of Fairbanks is ideal for Northern Lights … The northern lights are an amazing thing to behold, and can be seen regularly from locations spanning from Siberia and Alaska to Northern Canada and Scandinavia. How can we tell that a meteorite has come from a particular planet? To see aurora borealis in its full glory, it's important to get far from large cities that have strong light pollution. The park is located near Port Austin, in the Blue Water Area on Lower Peninsula. Check the Kp maps (above) and the size of the aurora oval (also above). What time of year is best to see the Northern Lights in Scotland? As we mentioned earlier this is something that almost never happens, but it is a possibility. In Bergen, a city on the shores of a fjord, the light pollution isn’t as bad as in Oslo, so you may have a good chance of seeing the northern lights if they’re strong enough. We will look at the conditions needed for the best Auroras and just how far North you can sometimes see the Southern Lights from. Inland northern British Columbia, such as Dawson Creek, is a great place to spend a night with your eyes to sky before beginning a trip up the Alaska Highway. Torrance Barrens Night Sky Reserve is the closest to Toronto, and it's also known for strong geomagnetic activity. Solar activity happens in cycles, heating up to a maximum every 11 years. As far north as Perth in Australia you may be able to see something on the horizon. I suspect the best ranges to view aurora are at latitude higher than 40 (north or south, respectively) degrees, but this is mostly conjecture. Places like New Zealand and Tasmania would get a full on overhead display. The … However, if you’re open to exploring beyond Oslo, you can get far enough from the city lights in a 1-2 hour drive that you will have a much better chance to see them. This article will help you improve your chances of … This is the case for most travellers, but it can often get quite confusing knowing the best places and best time of year to see the Northern Lights. So some years there will be lots of solar activity leading to really magical displays, whereas other years the lights can be very quiet and they are often not visible at all. So for a more regular solar event you need to be looking at heading to South Island on New Zealand over the wintertime. This region is better known as the “Aurora Zone.” He likes maths, West End musicals and hamsters. Thanks! So if you do want to get a glimpse of the most spectacular light show on earth, how far south do you have to be? The years 2012 and 2013 are very good years for activity, we saw some amazing displays in 2012 and 2013 looks like giving us much of the same. So if you are on South Island in New Zealand if the kp strength reaches 5 then you have a good chance of spotting something on the horizon. Although Scandinavia, Iceland and Canada are some of the more typical destinations for experiencing the lights in person, fewer people know that the lights have actually been seen throughout the UK – even as far south as Kent and Cornwall! Well if this did happen you would be able to see the lights from cities such as Cape Town, Buenos Aires and Perth. While they have seen Auroral sub-storms as far down as Cuba, realistically north is where you need to be. What’s the furthest south the Northern Lights have been seen? If you're located somewhere like Georgia, the Northern Lights may only appear in your night sky once every few decades. With less landmass in the south, the southern lights are perhaps less talked about as they mostly occur over water, but they can be seen over parts of New Zealand, and Australia and Tasmania. If you are expecting a massive overhead display though you need a much stronger level of activity. If you sit in Perth, Australia waiting to see something you might be there one hundred years before you even see a glow. By clicking “sign up” you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. Produced by fast-moving particles from the Sun smashing into molecules in the upper atmosphere, the Aurora Borealis is normally thought of as something visible only above the Arctic Circle. Fairbanks. To the right you can see three maps indicating where an Aurora will reach, the shaded area is where the Aurora will be clearly visible from. If we were able to dig through the Earth, at what point would you stop digging down and start digging up? This is a very similar display to the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights which takes place in the Northern hemisphere. However it is much harder to catch a glimpse of the Southern Lights than it is their Northern counterparts. If there is a really large solar storm though you can sometimes see the Southern Lights from quite a long way North. The Northern Lights usually circle the globe in a circular or elliptical \"oval\" centered on the earth's North Magnetic Pole, which is not at the same location as the North Geographic Pole, but rather is slightly offset in the direction of northern Canada. You'll also have to escape the cloudy weather on the coast. If you are wondering just how far North you can view the Southern Lights or Aurora Australis from then this page will tell you. Check. On the rare occasion that the kp index reaches 8, something that maybe happens once every few years, then you can see the Southern Lights from quite a few places. Should I wear two masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19? This makes capturing a glimpse of them all the more possible. The Aurora Borealis may be visible as far south as northern North Carolina all the way to northern California. The lights also run on a longer cycle. If this did actually happen though it would make global news as it is such a rare event. 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