The Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, originates from the Sun. The process begins with activity on the Sun’s surface, where charged particles are ejected into space as the solar wind. But what causes this activity?

At the core of aurora formation are sunspots—temporary dark regions on the Sun’s surface caused by magnetic disturbances. These areas are cooler than their surroundings but are often associated with intense solar activity. There are different types of sunspots, ranging from simple ones with minor disturbances to more complex, highly active regions that can lead to powerful solar events.

Occasionally, these active regions produce solar flares—sudden bursts of radiation—and coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which are large eruptions of plasma and magnetic fields from the Sun’s corona. CMEs, in particular, can dramatically increase the intensity of the solar wind. When these events occur, they send a dense wave of solar material speeding towards Earth, supercharging the solar wind.

As the solar wind reaches Earth, it interacts with our planet’s magnetic field. The magnetic field directs these particles towards the polar regions, where they collide with atoms in the upper atmosphere, creating the light displays we know as auroras. Oxygen usually produces green and red light, while nitrogen contributes blue and purple hues.

The auroral oval is a constantly shifting ring around Earth’s poles, where auroras are most commonly visible. When the solar wind is particularly strong, such as after a CME, this oval expands, allowing the auroras to be seen at lower latitudes than usual.

In summary, the Aurora Borealis is born on the Sun, with sunspots, solar flares, and CMEs driving the solar wind towards Earth. The interaction between these charged particles and Earth’s magnetic field creates the stunning light displays that aurora chasers seek, sometimes visible far beyond their typical polar regions when solar activity is heightened.

The colours of the aurora depend on which gases are being excited by the solar particles. Green, the most common, is produced by oxygen at lower altitudes. Red comes from oxygen at higher altitudes, while nitrogen can produce shades of purple, blue, and pink.

The Northern Lights are most visible during the winter months, from late September to March, when the nights are long and dark. Solar activity also plays a role, so it’s best to monitor forecasts for geomagnetic storms.

The aurora is best viewed in high-latitude regions, including northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Canada, and Alaska. Locations with little light pollution and clear skies give the best chance of a spectacular display.

Capturing the Northern Lights requires a tripod for stability, a camera capable of manual settings, and patience. Set your camera to a low ISO (800-1600), wide aperture (f/2.8 or lower), and long exposure (5-15 seconds). Adjust these settings depending on the brightness of the aurora.

While any DSLR or mirrorless camera with manual controls can capture the night sky, a wide-angle lens, sturdy tripod, and a remote shutter release will improve your shots. A lens with a wide aperture (f/2.8 or lower) is ideal for capturing the faint details of the stars or aurora.

Our eyes can only pick up so much colour in low light. Cameras, on the other hand, with long exposures, can capture the full range of colours and intensity that our eyes may miss, making the aurora look more vivid in photos.

While there are no guarantees, solar activity can be monitored, and geomagnetic forecasts give a good indication of when the Northern Lights are likely to appear. Websites and apps dedicated to aurora predictions can help you plan your viewing.

The aurora can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, depending on the solar activity. It can appear as short bursts or a continuous show, so it’s worth staying out for a while to fully experience it.

Dress warmly in layers, as you’ll likely be outside for long periods in cold weather. Bring a tripod, spare batteries (they drain faster in the cold), and some patience – the aurora is a natural phenomenon, so flexibility is key.