What do the Northern Lights usually look like? Are they worth questing after if you only have a few days? [closed]
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I've heard that the Northern Lights most often just look like colored clouds, and very very rarely take on the spectacular curtain-like form we commonly see in pictures.
Can anyone comment on the accuracy of that statement? I don't want to see colored clouds, I want to see the good stuff. If I'm only in that part of the world for 3 nights, assuming clear skies and away from the city, is it likely the aurora will even be worth the time and money spent getting there?
Best Answer
What's special about the aurora is that it moves, otherwise it can look quite different every time. I've seen it twice, both times rather small and weak, not breathtaking but still a special experience. But it really doesn't look like a cloud.
I'd say the biggest risk is not that it would be disappointing, but that it might not appear at all (or be invisible due to clouds). Going on a 3 day trip just for a chance to see it is probably not worth it, but if you have other things to do there and just spend some extra time aurora hunting, then I'd say go for it.
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What do faint Northern Lights look like?
They often appear milky white in color, "almost like a cloud," as one seasoned traveler puts it. If you're lucky, you might see faint glows of green, light purple or pink, and only in rare cases do viewers report bright, multicolored light shows.What to look for when looking for Northern Lights?
The best way to see the northern lights is to head as north as possible. The majority of molecular activity happens near the Earth's magnetic poles. For that reason, the Arctic region is an ideal location. In fact, some of the best light shows happen near or above the Arctic Circle.Is Northern Lights visible daily?
The Northern Lights are unpredictable. In order to see the Northern Lights, you need a dark, clear night. They are visible from late August to early April anytime during dark hours, which in places like Abisko or Troms\xf8 can be nearly 24 hours a day in winter.How long do the Northern Lights usually last?
How long do the northern lights last? Anywhere from 10 minutes to all night long, depending on the magnitude of the incoming solar wind.Northern lights: what they don't tell, but you need to know!
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Answer 2
Northern lights look like a floating ribbon of light. They're very easy to miss if you've never seen them before. The first time I saw them, I thought it was just some car light over the hills. But my parents, who had seen them before, asked me to wait. Within minutes, we could see a ribbon on light floating in the sky, which got thicker as the time passed. Within ten minutes, it was so thick and so low, I felt I could touch it.
As to questing after them: It depends where you are going. I saw them in Iceland, where the government has a very good and accurate website, updated several times a day, that gives you a map of Iceland and the probability of seeing Northern Lights. We always checked that website before leaving, and never had to waste time.
Iceland also has an informal network (other countries might too)- anytime anyone sees the Northen Lights, they let everyone know. In Iceland, all the tourist companies were on this network- as soon as the aurora was spotted, we'd see several buses and cars rushing to the site.
If you don't want to be disappointed, do your research before leaving, to check if the country you are going to has such support. Iceland is the best country, as Northern Lights can be seen right out of (and sometimes inside) the capital city, which means you don't have to drive hundreds of miles.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Rodrigo Souza, Designecologist, JESHOOTS.com, mentatdgt