Kiera Jefferson
The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, are a natural light display visible at certain times in the Northern Hemisphere. They are caused by the interaction of particles from the Sun with the Earth's atmosphere and magnetic field. Light pollution can affect the visibility of the Northern Lights, with dark and clear nights, preferably with little light pollution, offering the best chance of seeing the phenomenon.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Light pollution | Can affect the visibility of the Northern Lights |
| Geographic location | Affects the visibility of the Northern Lights |
What You'll Learn
Light pollution can affect your ability to see the Northern Lights
Scientists have captured images of aurorae on Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. The aurora on Uranus was captured by the Hubble Space Telescope. Aurorae on Mars have also been seen, but as the 'red planet' does not have a global magnetic field, aurorae behave differently and appear to be far more widespread.
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The Northern Lights are caused by geomagnetic activity
Light pollution can affect the visibility of the Northern Lights, but it is not the cause of them. The Northern Lights are caused by geomagnetic activity, which is the degree of disturbance of the Earth's magnetic field at the time. The higher the geomagnetic activity, the brighter and further away from the polar regions the aurora will be able to be viewed.
Any planet with an atmosphere and magnetic field is likely to have aurorae. Scientists have captured images of aurorae on Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. The aurora on Uranus was captured by the Hubble Space Telescope (ESA/Hubble & NASA, L. Lamy / Observatoire de Paris). Aurorae on Mars have also been seen, but as the 'red planet' does not have a global magnetic field, aurorae behave differently and appear to be far more widespread.
To know whether you have a chance of seeing an aurora, you need to know the level of geomagnetic activity occurring at the time you are viewing. Lancaster University's Department of Physics runs a website called AuroraWatch UK, which estimates the likelihood of an aurora being visible based on geomagnetic activity. It is also important to be far enough away from a city to prevent light pollution.
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The Northern Lights can be seen on other planets
The Northern Lights, or the aurora borealis, are not caused by pollution. In fact, light pollution can make it harder to see the lights. Dark and clear nights, with little light pollution, offer the best chance of seeing the aurora.
Aurorae on Mars have also been seen, but as the 'red planet' does not have a global magnetic field, aurorae behave differently and appear to be far more widespread. The auroras on Mars are weak and infrequent because the planet is 1.8 billion miles from the Sun.
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The Northern Lights are best viewed on dark and clear nights
The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, are best viewed on dark and clear nights. This is because light pollution from city lights can obscure the distinctive colours of the aurora. To view the lights, it is best to be far away from a city.
The conditions for viewing the Northern Lights also depend on geomagnetic activity and your geographic location. The higher the geomagnetic activity, the brighter the aurora will be and the further away from the polar regions it will be visible. Lancaster University's Department of Physics runs a website called AuroraWatch UK, which estimates the likelihood of an aurora being visible based on geomagnetic activity.
Other factors that can affect your viewing possibilities include local weather, a full moon, and other sources of light pollution. To increase your chances of seeing the Northern Lights, it is best to be in a location with minimal light pollution and clear skies.
The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon that occurs on any planet with an atmosphere and magnetic field. Scientists have captured images of aurorae on Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. The aurora on Uranus was captured by the Hubble Space Telescope. Aurorae on Mars have also been observed, but due to the planet's lack of a global magnetic field, they behave differently and appear more widespread.
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The Northern Lights can be viewed in the UK
Light pollution can affect the visibility of the Northern Lights. Dark and clear nights, preferably with little light pollution, offer the best chance of seeing the aurora. Lancaster University's Department of Physics runs a website called AuroraWatch UK, which estimates the likelihood of an aurora being visible based on geomagnetic activity.
To know whether you have a chance of seeing an aurora, you need to know the level of geomagnetic activity occurring at the time you are viewing. The higher the geomagnetic activity, the brighter and further away from the polar regions the aurora will be able to be viewed. Local weather, light pollution from city lights, a full moon, and other factors can also affect your viewing possibilities.
If you are in the UK, you will need to be far enough away from a city to prevent light pollution.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the Northern Lights are not caused by pollution. However, light pollution can make it more difficult to see the Northern Lights.
Light pollution from city lights, a full moon, and other factors can affect your viewing possibilities. Dark and clear nights, preferably with little light pollution, offer the best chance of seeing the aurora.
You can increase your chances of seeing the Northern Lights by checking your location is within the aurora visible region and that you are far enough away from a city to prevent light pollution.
