Ozone is a gas * made of oxygen atoms. Its name means “opposite to the Arctic ” (the Arctic is the region around the North Pole ). But these dancing lights also light up certain lower regions of the Southern Hemisphere (Antarctica, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile) and are known as “Aurora Australis” and, you guessed it, Southern Lights. A dark, moonless sky is awash in light radiating from an aurora over Antarctica in a new image released by NASA. Northern Lights: 8 Dazzling Facts About Auroras. 8. Fun Facts About the Auroras. Share: Updated April 21, 2020. In order to experience the best of the northern lights, there need to be clear skies, little light, and strong solar activity. Simultaneous occurrence According to scientists, northern and southern auroras are mirror-like images that occur at the same time, with similar shapes and colors. Antarctica's clean air, water and ice of are of importance to science for understanding how the Earth's environment is changing both naturally and as a result of human activity. Aurora australis, the southern lights, are caused … Read Article . Northern Lights activities You can only admire the aurora at night, of course - so here are our suggestions for things to do in the Arctic winter when not gazing skyward. Seeing the Yukon Northern Lights is … If you’re an avid space enthusiast, you’ve probably seen the northern lights at this point (or want to). 00 / 6 pm, even during the darkest months in the Arctic. But less we digress, here are seven things you never knew about the Northern Lights. Aurora, luminous phenomenon of Earth’s upper atmosphere that occurs primarily in high latitudes of both hemispheres; auroras in the Northern Hemisphere are called aurora borealis, aurora polaris, or northern lights, and in the Southern Hemisphere aurora australis, or southern lights.… This 2008 image, taken in Antarctica, capture's Earth's atmosphere in a St. Paddy's Day mood. The fifth largest continent, it has a greater land area than both Europe and Australia. But Antarctica has no permanent human population. Antarctica is also home to some pretty cool wildlife including penguins, seals, seabirds and whales, some of which can only be found here. The best viewing season in Iceland is from October through March (although I saw them clearly at the end of September). The Aurora Borealis (or Northern Lights) is a meteorological phenomenon that occurs over the Arctic Circle at a height of approximately 90 - 150 km (56 - 93 miles) above the planet's surface. There’s the you before you saw the aurora borealis, and the you after. A series of interesting facts about the Arctic, prompted by our recent trip to the Greenland ice sheet. The map graphic shown here is indicative of where the aurora are most visible, but they can appear at lower latitudes. Published on November 1, 2014. The effect is known as the aurora borealis (or the Northern Lights) in Northern hemisphere latitudes. More Antarctica Facts. The best place to see polar bears and Northern Lights would be in areas close to the Arctic Circle, such as Greenland, the Canadian Arctic and Spitsbergen. Monday, 20th April 2020. The Northern Lights can appear at any time, but they usually grace the sky between 6 o’clock in the evening and 1 o’clock in the morning. Of course, we know today what causes the phenomenon. Because of its unique geography and even more unique political status, Antarctica is bursting with incredible facts. In northern latitudes, the Northern Lights are known as the aurora borealis. The Southern Lights, commonly known as the Aurora Australis, is one of the world’s greatest wonders. Of all the things to do in Canada, if seeing the Northern Lights is high up on your bucket list, the Yukon is a good place to go for a Northern Lights vacation. The highest frequency is around 22:00-23:00 / 10-11pm. It’s the same phenomenon as the Northern Lights, and appear during the Antarctic winter between March and September. Read a National Geographic magazine article about auroras and get information, facts, and more about magnetic storms. So, if you're at all curious about the aurora borealis, join me and let's dive into these fascinating northern lights facts! Some lesser-known facts: they occur across other worlds in the solar system, including Venus and Mars. This natural phenomenon usually occurs in areas known as the 'auroral zone' near the poles of the Arctic in the north and Antarctic in the south. The closer to the North Pole the better. Earth’s magnetic field is rapidly decaying and can’t last millions of years. Aurora Borealis in Iceland Best places to see the northern lights Vs southern lights Northern lights: Grotta Lighthouse, Iceland: The aurora borealis is undoubtedly one of the best light shows on Earth, and a trip to Iceland during winter is your ticket to the grand event. Travellers come from across the globe to witness the spectacular natural light display in the high-altitude Antarctic region. NASA. The Ozone Hole in Antarctica The seasonal thinning of the ozone layer of the earth's atmosphere above Antarctica, so allowing abnormal amounts of ultra-violet light to reach the earth's surface in those regions. Auroras—Heavenly Lights. This auroral zone covers Central and northern Alaska and Canada, Greenland, northern Scandinavia and Russia in the Northern Hemisphere, and Antarctica in the Southern Hemisphere. The Yukon Northern Lights are legendary and a good reason to visit the Yukon in winter. The best places to see the northern lights are in Northern Canada, Alaska, Iceland, Finland, Norway, or Sweden. The Southern lights are much more elusive than their Northern Hemisphere counterpart-Aurora Borealis. The cosmic extravaganza appears in the forms of huge patches of light in the sky, clouds of light, streaming lights that can also be in the shape of arcs, rippling curtains of light or shooting rays. Tour operators are tapping a huge and ever increasing demand to visit the Earth's last great wilderness. Destination Specialist. The auroral lights have a rich history that could have inspired 30,000-year-old cave paintings in France, according to Space.com, and appear in the writing of Aristotle and Descartes. The Northern Lights are electrically charched particles from the Sun that collide with our atmosphere and interact with its gases, creating a natural phenomenon of different light colors. The aurora borealis – otherwise known as the northern lights – is a vivid demonstration of the Earth’s magnetic field interacting with charged particles from the sun. Down under, the Southern Lights are known as the aurora australis. Southern lights seen from space. Antarctica Facts - Flora: The few areas where there is no or only little ice throughout the year are located in the most northern parts of the continent.There one will find also the typical Tundra vegetation.Typical Tundra plants are small scrubs, grasses and mosses. An aurora is a natural light display in the sky, usually of greenish color but sometimes red or blue. They are known as Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights in the Arctic Circle, and Aurora Australis in the Antarctic Circle. Stunning amateur pictures of the Southern Lights in Antarctica have been revealed by a chef working for the British Antarctic Survey team. Based in the city of Tromso, however, we saw little of the wilderness that defines the polar regions. The northern lights occur within a geographic area referred to as the aurora zone.It encompasses latitudes between 60 and 75 degrees and takes in Iceland, northern parts of Sweden, Finland, Norway, Russia, Canada and Alaska as well as southern Greenland. The southern lights – or Aurora Australis –, on the other hand, are more difficult to reach. 13. The southernmost continent in the world, Antarctica surrounds the South Pole . Stunning Southern Lights images revealed by Antarctica chef. An aurora (plural: auroras or aurorae), sometimes referred to as polar lights (aurora polaris), northern lights (aurora borealis), or southern lights (aurora australis), is a natural light display in the Earth's sky, predominantly seen in high-latitude regions (around the Arctic and Antarctic).. Auroras are the result of disturbances in the magnetosphere caused by solar wind. The Northern Lights are spectacular displays of natural light, which occur predominantly above the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Our first trip to the Arctic Circle delivered more than we had hoped for: stunning Northern Lights, a close encounter with Arctic reindeer and a night-time husky hike replete with husky puppies. Work up a sweat with cross country skiing or snow shoeing, or be pulled by huskies or reindeer through a real life winter wonderland. The incredible images, snapped across the world, have been selected to be part of the Northern Lights Photographer of the Year collection - curated … If one were to look from space, they would see a ring-shaped aurora spanning around 2500 miles (4000 kms) around both poles. The Northern lights can be seen above the magnetic poles of the northern and southern hemispheres in an irregularly shaped oval centred over each magnetic pole. In the Northern Hemisphere, from Alaska to the Arctic, the lights are known as Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis. Known as the White Continent, Antarctica is the most southerly point on earth. ... Quark Expeditions is uncompromisingly polar, specializing in expeditions to Antarctica and the Arctic. 1. Read on to discover the best places and times to see the auroras and more information on the magical Northern Lights. A northern lights display above Reine in Norway's Lofoten islands. Written by Jesse Emspak, Livescience.com. After all, they’re convenient for most of us living in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and even Russia – even if you have to travel to see them. It is rare to see the Northern Lights before 18. The mythology of the northern lights. The prime time to see the lights is between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. -- the darkest time of the night. It appears as bands or curtains of multicolored lights (predominantly green, violet, and pink). In our 37 years' experience of arranging holidays to see the northern lights we've discovered the best places to view… View Northern Lights Self Drive ... Facts About Antarctica You Should Know. 300 units (green) is normal, less than 220 (blue) is a "hole" What is ozone? The satellite photo captures the aurora australis, or "southern lights," in the early morning hours of June 24. Caused by storms sent from the sun itself, seeing the Northern Lights is a transformative experience, a gift from the cosmos itself. 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