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What conditions need to be just right to have the chance to see the Aurora Borealis?
This depends mainly on your geographic location and how active the sun is at a given time: high latitude and high solar activity are not preconditions, but make Aurora sightings much more likely.
Northern or southern lights mainly can be seen after solar flares, huge eruptions on the surface of the sun, often followed by a coronal mass ejection, where high quantities of plasma (big swarms of electrons and protons) are expulsed. These solar flares can happen frequently when the sun is highly active.
In average, you have a solar activity maximum every 11 years. A couple of years with high solar activity is followed by years with low or almost none (a good indicator is the number of sun spots). At the moment (Jan 09), solar activity is very low, but it is of course expected to increase during the next couple of years.
If you are located at higher latitudes (close to the polar circles / poles), Auroras are much more frequent and can also be observed regularly during times of very low solar activity. During times of high solar activity, it's not so rare to see aurora also at mid latitudes (like central Europe or the more northern states of the USA). Rarely, it can also be watched in low latitude countries.
To get the newest data about the solar activity and polar lights, visit http://www.spaceweather.com
What else can I help you with?
Why does Antarctica get northern lights?
Antarctica does not get the "Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis)", being at the South Pole, it gets the "Southern Lights" or the Aurora Australis. The source of both the Aurora Australis and Aurora Borealis is the sun. A stream of particles known as the "Solar Wind" spills around the edges of the Earth's magnetic sphere and, when it collides with gases in the ionosphere, the particles glow very spectacularly.
Why are aurora borealis often seen in the northern latitudes of Canada?
It is because of the high altitude and usually clear skies since it is so close to the north pole. However, the Aurora Borealis is not seen every night. +++ It is not seen only from Alaska and Canada, and you mean latitude, not altitude. The A. Borealis (Northern Lights) is visible right round the world at high latitudes. Similarly with A. Australis (Southern Lights). The aurora are visible from high latitudes, North or South, because they form around the Earth's magnetic poles, which are fairly close to the axis Poles; not because the air is clear (although that will help!) They come and go depending on the vagaries of the streams of charged-particles emitted by the Sun, as their light is a result of the particles' reaction with the Earth's upper atmosphere and magnetic field.
How often do the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis happen in Nova Scotia?
It is caused by the showers of particles spraying out of the sun and captured by the magnetic field of the earth. So it is not actually on a regular schedule, and actually is happening constantly, but is best seen at night. The brightness and extent is determined by how charged the particles are. The closer you are to the north magnetic pole the more often you will see it.
What time does the northern lights come out?
The Southern (or Northern) Lights are caused by particles ejected from the sun by solar flares, getting trapped in the ionosphere and radiating. They happen all the time, but the conditions have to be right for them to be visible.
Why do scientists work with other scientist?
a better chance of a right answer
What is the Aurora borealis by?
the aurora Borealis is caused by radiation and u.v rays shining through the carbon dioxide and atmosphere. This is the right answer
Why does Antarctica get northern lights?
Antarctica does not get the "Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis)", being at the South Pole, it gets the "Southern Lights" or the Aurora Australis. The source of both the Aurora Australis and Aurora Borealis is the sun. A stream of particles known as the "Solar Wind" spills around the edges of the Earth's magnetic sphere and, when it collides with gases in the ionosphere, the particles glow very spectacularly.
Why are aurora borealis often seen in the northern latitudes of Canada?
It is because of the high altitude and usually clear skies since it is so close to the north pole. However, the Aurora Borealis is not seen every night. +++ It is not seen only from Alaska and Canada, and you mean latitude, not altitude. The A. Borealis (Northern Lights) is visible right round the world at high latitudes. Similarly with A. Australis (Southern Lights). The aurora are visible from high latitudes, North or South, because they form around the Earth's magnetic poles, which are fairly close to the axis Poles; not because the air is clear (although that will help!) They come and go depending on the vagaries of the streams of charged-particles emitted by the Sun, as their light is a result of the particles' reaction with the Earth's upper atmosphere and magnetic field.
What would be the right year to see northern light 2012 or 2013?
The aurora borealis activity increases & decreases on an 11 year cyle, which next peaks in 2013. So, we are getting close to the peak even right now. See the related link for more detailed forecast information.
How often do the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis happen in Nova Scotia?
It is caused by the showers of particles spraying out of the sun and captured by the magnetic field of the earth. So it is not actually on a regular schedule, and actually is happening constantly, but is best seen at night. The brightness and extent is determined by how charged the particles are. The closer you are to the north magnetic pole the more often you will see it.
Whats the weather like in auroraIL?
Right now in Aurora, Illinois it is mostly cloudy and 86 degrees outside. Tonight it will be 65 degrees with a sixty percent chance of thunderstorms and rain.
Right ascension and declination of constellation Corona Borealis?
The right ascension of Corona Borealis is approximately 16 hours, and the declination is around +30 degrees. These coordinates indicate the position of the constellation in the sky and are used by astronomers to locate it.
In which constellation is the star called Tania Borealis?
Tania Borealis is a star in the Ursa Major constellation. The star is also known as Lambda Ursae Majoris. It is located in the right paw of the Ursa Major.
When can you find the next aurora borealis in WI for free?
They are normally only visible inthe sub-arctic and arctic regions. There is much mystery as to what causes them. Somewhat oddly they do not normally interfere with radio traffic but did cause some tuning problems ( which were compensated for by switching in resistances and compensations) in transatlantic telegraph message cables such as those at the French Cable station. The route of the cables was not in arctic waters. still things happen, the world turns. At one time in the late thrities the Aurora Borealis was visible in the New York Metro area- and the weather was cooperative an aunt of mine saw it. she said it looked like a barrage of distant strobe lights vaguely reddish on a movie screen or curtain. For some reason the phenomenon did not photograph. interesting question. the scientific name literally means Northern Dawn, as Aurora was the goddess of the Dawn.
How many words can be made from letters aurora?
25 words. cool right? this is definatly right.
What time does the northern lights come out?
The Southern (or Northern) Lights are caused by particles ejected from the sun by solar flares, getting trapped in the ionosphere and radiating. They happen all the time, but the conditions have to be right for them to be visible.
Where is the water pump on a 1999 Oldsmobile Aurora?
On my 1998 Aurora with a 4.0L V8, the water pump is on the driver's side of the engine. It is right at the top of the engine.
