Alaska Aurora Hunting DVD
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How the Auroras Form
How the Auroras Form
The auroras form when charged protons and electrons emitted from the sun (solar wind) penetrate the earth's magnetic shield and collide with atoms and molecules in our atmosphere. These collisions result in countless little bursts of light, called photons, which make up the aurora. Collisions with oxygen produce red and green auroras, while nitrogen produces the pink and purple colors. This reaction encircles the polar regions of the earth and occurs at an altitude of 40-400 miles (65-650 km) in a zone called the "Auroral Oval."
When & Where
The auroras most commonly occur between 60°-75° latitude, but during great geomagnetic storms the auroral oval expands equatorially and can reach 30° latitude or further. In the northern hemisphere they are called the aurora borealis (northern lights) and in the southern hemisphere aurora australis (southern lights).
An auroral display might be observed any night from dusk until dawn as long as it is dark, which excludes Alaskan summer nights (May-July). The best time to view them is between midnight and 2 am. There is an 11-year solar cycle (on average) that controls the tempo of the aurora. The most recent peak in the cycle occurred in 2000-2001. The next peak is predicted in 2011.
