Does anyone know how often aurora borealis occurs?

Question

I know that it's caused by solar flares and whatnot but how often? Does it come regularly, like, can they predict it or is it just random?

Answer 1

I think there's only a could months of the year when we are close enough and it's in Alaska so I think it's summertime.

Answer 2

Aurora Borealis or the Northern Lights occur pretty much all the time. It's where you live as to whether or not you can actually see them.

I live approximately 500 miles north of the border between the U.S. and Canada - in Alberta, Canada - about halfway to the northern border of the Northwest Territories. If you have ever heard of the 49th parallel, well, I live just south of the 60th parallel. Anything north of that is referred to as "North of 60."
There was even a very popular TV series in Canada and now syndicated around the world called "North of 60."

Depending on how far north you live, you will see the northern lights often. We see them mostly in the fall and winter and the night must be quite clear. From where I am, they appear mostly in the colors of green and blue but again, depending on where you live, they can appear in other colors as well.

They are beautiful and they also dance - meaning that they move around constantly and change their lines of distinction so that they appear to be "dancing." Sometimes, almost our entire sky is filled with them but I have only seen this occur perhaps 4-5 times in the winter (late November to late January).

So, I suppose if you live far south in the U.S. or other parts of the world, you may never see them unless you are experiencing an unusually cold winter and if you look closely enough, I imagine they would appear as a very faint, green glow - you might even mistake them for some sort of pollution depending on if you live in a large city.

The Inuit people (or Eskimos as they once were known) are the only people to actually see them regularly and I suppose people in northern Russia/Siberia etc. would also see them on a fairly regular basis but even then, only in the winter months if in some northern European countries.

I hope I have answered your question and depending on where you are, look closely in the winter on the coldest night - to the north - and you might just see the faint glow of Aurora Borealis.

Answer 3

The aurora borealis is created by energized partcicles from the sun colliding with parcicles in the atmosphere around the poles. It is likely to occur during periods of strong solar activity, when great masses of energized partcicle are released in bursts. We are currently in the year of the solar minimum, so there is relatively little solar activity. For a detailed forcast go here:
http://www.spaceweather.com/

Answer 4

The northern lights occur around the Arctic Circle (a bit south of it and all the way north of it). The further to the north you are, the more frequent they are. Places that are situated north of the Arctic Circle have northern lights almost every day/night.

The northern lights could occur any time of the day or night, and any time of the year. But they are dim, and can only be seen by the naked eye during winter nights. (The summer nights are not dark enough.)

Answer 5

The best site I have found for Aurora Borealis info & beautiful photographs is www.auroradude.com According to the photo info the best lights are seen in the late summer (Aug through Sept) and early spring(April&May). Check out www.auroradude.com & be amazed.

Answer 6

Generally, the closer you get to the north (or south) pole, the more frequent they are. They are seen several times yearly in northern states such as Minnesota, North Dakota, etc. Northern Alaska can experience auroras as many as 100 times per year.

Answer 7

Haven't thought about that

Answer 8

well here in Norway you can see them in the north almost all winter... but i have seen it here in the south too.....and yes there is a forecast....

Answer 9

thanks to each and every one of you for the replies.