The Aurora:
Frequently Asked Questions

For more detailed information on these and other topics, check out the Straight Scoop.

Where is the best place to see aurora?

Can I see it from where I live?

The maps below show the average location of the auroral oval in the northern and southern hemispheres.

In the northern hemisphere, prime viewing locations include Fairbanks, Alaska, and many locations in eastern Canada. In Europe, Iceland and northern Scandinavia see the most aurora. In the southern hemisphere, the aurora frequents uninhabited regions, making sightings of the southern lights, aurora australis, much rarer than the northern lights, aurora borealis.

The farther away from the average oval you live, the smaller your chance of seeing aurora. For example, people in the northern New England states may be able to see aurora several times a year, while people living in the southeastern US may only have the opportunity to see the aurora a few times in a century! The chart below shows the average percentage of nights per year that the aurora might be seen:

Besides location, weather and light pollution also affect your chances of seeing aurora. Obviously, you cannot see aurora if the sky is overcast. However, even a slight haze may prevent you from seeing the aurora if it is illuminated by light pollution from a nearby urban area.

Your best bet for seeing aurora is to get as close as you can to the position of the average auroral oval shown above, and as far away as you can from sources of artificial light.

What is the best time of year to see aurora?

In northern regions like Alaska, the best time to view aurora is around the equinox (March and late September-October) because this time of year offers the best trade-off between mild weather and dark skies. During the summer months, night skies are not dark enough to view aurora, and in midwinter temperatures in the -40 degree range make outdoor aurora viewing somewhat unpleasant.

In other locations farther from the average auroral oval (see the previous faq), the main consideration is the level of geomagnetic activity, which varies rather unpredictably through the year. Auroral displays are more likely around the time of the solar activity maximum (2000-2001 in the current cycle). Check activity forecasts (listed in the aurora links page) to watch for opportunities.

What is the best time of day to see aurora?

The most active region of the auroral oval typically becomes visible around local midnight. This region is also the widest part of the oval in the north-south direction, so your best chance of seeing aurora is around local midnight. (Note that this is astronomical midnight, which may be an hour or two different from civil or "wall clock" midnight due to daylight savings time or other peculiarities in your time zone.)

Spectacular auroral displays due to geomagnetic disturbances may be seen at any time when the sky is dark, but they are relatively unpredictable. Under average conditions, observations around local midnight are most likely to yield results.

Will I be able to see aurora when I visit in a few months?

It is not possible to predict auroral activity very far in advance. As solar activity increases towards the maximum in 2000-2001, the aurora will be even less predictable, with forecasts being limited to a few days based on current observations of solar flares and sunspots.

So, if you are planning a trip months in advance, consider the previous faqs on typical auroral locations and viewing seasons. Beyond that, we can truly say, "your guess is as good as ours."

If you are planning to visit Alaska, be sure to check out the State of Alaska Division of Tourism page. Information about Fairbanks accomodations can be found through the Fairbanks Convention and Visitor's Bureau or the Fairbanks Association of Bed and Breakfasts.

Does the aurora make sounds?

This question is always good for a lively discussion among residents of the north. So far, attempts to record sound during aurora have failed to produce any proof that such sounds exist, but it is hard to ignore the numerous reports that go back centuries.

There are generally two types of sounds reported to accompany the aurora. The first is a swishing sound that changes with movements in that auroral display. The second type is a crackling sound, like static electricity makes.

The problem with claims of sound that changes in time with auroral movements is that the aurora is a long ways away (100 km/60 miles), so if sound was coming from the aurora, there would be a long delay between the auroral movement and the sound arriving at the listener's ears, just as thunder arrives long after a distant lightning flash is observed. There is also the small detail that the air between us and the aurora is far too thin to carry sound over such long distances. Therefore, if this kind of sound exists, it must be created very near to the observer.

The most likely explanation for this type of sound is that it is created inside the observer's head: not a figment of the imagination, but rather leakage of the electrical impulses from the nerves in the eye (carrying images of the aurora to the brain) into the part of the brain the processes sound. In a very quiet environment, there are no sound signals for the brain to process, so it notices these tiny leakage signals and the result is sounds that change in time with the aurora. This explanation was actually tested by some early explorers, who found that the sound went away if their eyes were covered.

The second type of sound is more mysterious. A crackling sound, like static electricity sparking, might be explained by the strong electric and magnetic fields associated with the aurora, but so far theories and measurements have not provided a satisfactory explanation. Research continues.

Can I photograph or videotape the aurora?

If you have a camera that will permit you to make long exposures (>10 seconds) and have a tripod, you should be able to photograph the aurora. See Photographing the Aurora for details.

Videotaping the aurora generally takes highly specialized (and expensive) video equipment. Most camcorders are not sensitive enough to see the aurora, though a few will record a faint, smokey image given a sufficiently bright aurora. Your best bet for video showing the color and motion of the aurora is to purchase a professionally-recorded tape such as those available through the Geophysical Institute.

Where is the aurora monument?

Thanks to the folks at Course Technologies and their "Great Internet Hunt" web page, this is a frequently-asked question. The information below may or may not be what they are asking you to find. Our advice is free and you get what you pay for.

There is a web page showing the aurora borealis monument on the road leaving the Fairbanks International Airport. There is also a new Northern Lights Tower and Interpretive Center in Rugby, North Dakota (the geographical center of North America) which may be what you are after. If there are other candidates for aurora monuments, please let us know...

Modified 19 August 1999 by ddr