Celestial Enchantment

Maybe it was the noise, the sudden sound of voices, or perhaps the footsteps running down the hallway, but last night I was abruptly awoken by a commotion of excitement. Next thing I knew, I was swept into a current of bodies with my teammates as we rushed to the back of the Centre and threw the doors open wide (We are ever vigilant of polar bear safety mind you). I was immediately captivated and spellbound to view the luminous northern lights as they flooded the evening sky in a brilliant cascade of color. I stood there in absolute awe. Previously I have only heard, but now I have seen this glorious display in the heavens with my very own eyes. Phenomenal! Here’s a small sample of what we saw, keep in mind that a camera could not possibly capture the magnitude or the beauty of such an event.

The aurora borealis is also called the northern polar lights. It is only visible in the sky from the Northern Hemisphere with the chance of visibility increasing the closer you get to the North Magnetic Pole (currently located in the arctic islands of northern Canada). Auroras seen near the magnetic pole appear directly overhead, but from further away, they illuminate the northern horizon often as a greenish glow or sometimes as a mixture of purple, red, orange, or yellow. The aurora borealis most often occurs from September to October and from March to April. The native Cree people of the arctic call this phenomenon the "Dance of the Spirits." While auroras can be seen throughout the world, they are most visible closer to the poles because of longer periods of darkness and the magnetic field.

Here’s your questions for today: The phenomenon of aurora is an interaction between the Earth's magnetic field and solar wind. What causes the aurora borealis (northern lights)? What makes the colors of an aurora? How are auroras predicted?