The Register-Guard

Northern lights seen in some US states

Heightened solar activity forecast next year could help intensify visibility

PHOENIX – The northern lights, scientific­ally known as the aurora borealis, are a mesmerizin­g natural phenomenon that occurs in polar regions when charged particles from the sun interact with the Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere.

Commonly associated with polar locations in Scandinavi­a, Alaska, Canada and Iceland, the northern lights have recently been visible as far south in the United States as Iowa and Nebraska.

Beyond their scientific importance, the cultural and historical significan­ce of the northern lights, coupled with their rarity and uniqueness, make them an intriguing and awe-inspiring subject of interest for people worldwide.

The northern lights are best seen in high-latitude regions near the magnetic pole. Some of the best places to witness the northern lights include Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Canada, Alaska and Russia.

In the U.S., Alaska has the greatest frequency of northern lights visibility. In rare cases of strong geomagneti­c storms, the northern lights can be visible in Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Maine, according to Space Tourism Guide.

The northern lights have even been seen in Arkansas and Arizona. This increased visibility is linked to the upcoming “solar maximum” predicted for 2025, characteri­zed by heightened solar activity, including solar flares and coronal mass ejections.

The most intense displays of the northern lights typically occur between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m., with the optimal time for the best sightings often falling between 11 p.m. and midnight, according to Discover the World, a travel company that sells trips to see the northern lights.

The best time of year for viewing the northern lights is typically during the winter, when the nights are the longest. These extended periods of darkness provide greater opportunit­ies to see the auroras.

The prime months for northern lights viewing are late September to early April. The peak season is generally from October to March, according to the Aurora Zone, a travel company specializi­ng in trips to see the northern lights.

The northern lights do not occur every night. Their appearance depends on specific conditions in the Earth’s atmosphere and interactio­ns with charged particles from the sun.

While the northern lights can occasional­ly be seen in parts of the northern U.S. during periods of high solar activity and strong geomagneti­c storms, they are not regularly visible across the entire country.

The northern lights are caused by the interactio­n between charged particles from the sun and the Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere. Here’s a breakdown of the process according to Space.com:

Solar wind: The sun continuous­ly emits a stream of charged particles, primarily electrons and protons, known as the solar wind.

Magnetic field interactio­n: When these charged particles are carried toward Earth by the solar wind, they interact with the Earth’s magnetic field. The Earth’s magnetic field is strongest near the polar regions.

Magnetosph­ere and ionosphere interactio­n: As the charged particles approach the Earth, they are captured by the planet’s magnetic field and directed toward the polar regions. When these charged particles collide with the gases in the Earth’s atmosphere, they transfer energy to the gases.

Emission of light: The transfer of energy to the atmospheri­c gases causes them to emit light. Different gases emit different colors, resulting in the vibrant colors of the auroras. Oxygen at higher altitudes can produce red and green colors, while nitrogen can contribute to purples, pinks and blues.

The northern lights provide valuable insights into environmen­tal processes such as magnetic field interactio­ns, ionospheri­c and atmospheri­c dynamics and the broader field of space weather, according to Space.com.

The auroras also have cultural and mythologic­al significan­ce. Many Indigenous cultures and other societies have legends and stories associated with the northern lights.

According to some beliefs, the northern lights are considered spirits or celestial beings.

The Sámi people, who inhabit northern parts of Finland, Norway, Russia and Sweden, believed that whistling, waving or singing under them is thought to attract and disturb them and that doing so might lead to unfavorabl­e consequenc­es or disruption­s in the natural balance.