The Incredible Northern Lights
Wow! The Northern Lights (also known as the aurora borealis or, in the UK, the Mirrie Dancers) are an incredible natural phenomenon. They have been inspiring people for centuries. Scientifically speaking, the lights are caused by electrically charged particles shed by the sun colliding with gases in the earth’s atmosphere, but we prefer the legends told by Native American tribes about their ancestors burning fires in the heavens or great medicine men creating life. Whether you lean towards the scientific or the romantic explanation, we are here to tell you the best times to glimpse the famous lights and where to head to do so!
North America: The United States and Canada offer exceptional options for experiencing the magic of the Northern Lights. Of course, as indicated, you will need to head north to do so! There are definitely favorite places for a lot of people; Fairbanks, Alaska and the Yukon (pictured) in Canada are often travelers’ “go-to” destinations for watching the astronomical phenomenon, but below we will drop a few surprising suggestions for you.
The absolute best times to do so are during the aurora season (from September to November) and during the long, dark winter evenings from December to February.
While some other factors can contribute to the colors and the visibility (think light or atmospheric pollution, for example), the lights are best observed in the above-listed times. The longer, darker nights contribute to their prevalence. In fact, the scientific cause happens year-round but when the days are longer in spring and summer it prohibits us from seeing the lights. That does not mean it is impossible, but stick to our recommendations if you really, really want to see them!
Did you know it was Galileo (yes, THAT Galileo) who gave the phenomenon its name? He named the lights for the Roman goddess of morning, Aurora. The lights have been seen, documented, and admired for centuries in Europe.
Of course, it holds true that Northern
Europe offers the best chance to catch the lights, such as the Isle of Lewis in Scotland (pictured). The best times to see the fabulous Northern Lights in Europe are about the same as in North America (though the aurora season is slightly longer from October to April), so make sure to time your visit accordingly.
We hope you enjoyed our introduction to the Northern Lights! We also hope you are ready to book your getaway. In fact, why not plan one year to see the lights in North America and then head to Europe the next?
Were you surprised by any of our entries? Perhaps staying in Williston, ND and making the trek to the Roosevelt National Forest or visiting beautiful Coeur d’Alene, Idaho finally made it to your bucket list? Maybe the remote Northern Isles hadn’t been on your radar before now. At any rate, you can’t go wrong visiting any of these fantastic destinations. They offer beautiful unspoiled skylines and access to some of the best national parks and forests across the globe!
If captivating beauty, clean air, unspoiled wilderness, and eco-friendly options are your thing, check out some of our other content related to our incredible world! Tripmasters offers a comprehensive collection of destinations to explore for every taste. Just get out and enjoy!
