Northern Light Fanatics Are In For A Rare Treat

If you are fascinated with the sun, moon, stars and anything pertaining to the sky, than listen up. Sky lovers will be able to get a glimpse of the northern lights. Thanks to the suns recent activity on Sunday.

The northern lights, otherwise known as Aurora Borealis, are caused when particles of the sun explode and shoot plasma balls towards the earth. When the particles reach the earth’s atmosphere at a slight angle, it gives off a blanket of colors like green, purple, and red. According to yahoo, NASA caught this stunning show on what they call, The Solar Dynamics Observatory. The SDD allows them to monitor the suns activities closer than normal range.

Normally people who only live in Canada and Alaska can view the beautiful colors of the northern lights. This time around, scientists are saying that people in the northern United States will be able to see the explosion of color. Citizens from Montana, the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Maine have a shot to see the northern lights starting August 3, 2010.

The best time to view the northern lights is during the night on a cloudless and fogless night.  So if you live near a foggy area try to get to an area with less fog or less clouds for better viewing. If you live near water or mountains take advantage of this current event. The colors may reflect in the water, creating an array of color not just in the sky, but the earth’s water also.

The northern lights are common in Alaska, but not in the United States. It can only be viewed in the United States when there is a disruption in the earth’s magnetosphere. Due to this disruption people in the northern U.S have a shot to view the light show.

Because of the earth’s magnetic field, being on a tilt that is why the northern lights can only be seen in Alaska and Canada.

It has been 151 years since the northern lights were seen in states, other than Alaska and Canada. The last northern lights were seen in 1859. The suns disruption of particles created such a strong force that the northern lights were reportedly seen in Florida and the Bahamas. 

Be sure to look to the skies this Tuesday and Wednesday evenings for the northern lights.  This is sure to be a once in a lifetime opportunity you don’t want to miss.