Aurora Borealis- a shimmering bright light in the sky. It is more commonly known as the Northern Lights. Best seen during the dark skies of winter months from September to April, these magical streaks can be seen dancing in the auroral oval between 60 and 75 degrees north of the equator. With no fixed patterns, Aurora Borealis can be frequently seen colouring the skies of Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Finland, UK, Alaska, Russia and Canada.
There are many speculations and myths about why these lights appear. Is there a magical being in the sky that sparks off these lights? Are there UFOs painting the sky green and purple? Today, we will talk about how these lights occur, what they look like, and the myths and legends behind them.
Occurrence
Firstly, we will understand how the Northern Lights occur. The Sun which is at the center of our Solar System, blasts supercharged particles at the Earth. The Earth uses its magnetic field to stop the charged particles from entering. As the magnetic field stops the particles from entering, it stretches under the impact and the weight of the particles. While most of the particles snap back, a few are catapulted down the magnetic fields near the poles, to enter its atmosphere. Auroras appear when these charged particles collide with the gases in the Earth’s atmosphere. These reactions cause billions of tiny flashes. These tiny flashes are the auroras- the beautiful flashes of light across the sky.
The Colours
The auroras can be completely described as magical. Unfortunately, you can see them with the naked eye only if the charged particles react with the gases hard enough. Otherwise, you need to use your phone, or DSLR camera, and tweak some special settings to see the auroras properly (1600 ISO, shutter speed = 1/24). These auroras are a shimmery kind of experience that spreads over the sky in the form of a ‘river of lightning’ extending into the great beyond. The multiple colours are caused by the energy associated with the electrons and the gases with which they collide. The altitude at which the phenomenon takes place also determines their colour. Auroras can be anywhere from green to red, pink, violet or blue.
Legends
Finally, we come to some common myths about the auroras. In the Norse Legend, propagated in the Scandinavian countries of Europe, it was often thought that the Norse heroes were lighting up the sky. A god named Odin chose brave warriors called Valkyries, who ran back to Norse heaven. The lights in the sky were their spirits, running back to Norse heaven, Valhalla. In Finland, the northern lights were thought to be a firefox running across the sky with its bright tail bounding along. In some parts of North America, the northern lights were thought to be omens of death. Likewise, there are many more legends that talk about the mystical nature of these unique lights.
The Northern lights are a wonderful spectacle to be witnessed in the countries near the north pole. The weather out there can be as unpredictable as the Aurora Borealis because one cannot say when the clear blue skies will give way to this interesting phenomenon. One among the most magical and spiritual experiences, these lights are awed by the photographers and tourists alike, millions of whom come to the Northern countries to witness this breathtaking adventure of the skies.
An indicator of the dynamism of earth’s magnetic field, these lights are like optical signatures of electric currents that pass through the higher latitudes reminding us of the beauty and mystical nature of the universe that surrounds us.
Writer : Aadarsh Nair
Grade : 9 (Year 2024)
Place : Melbourne, Australia
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