When was the last time you saw the "Northern Lights?"?

Question

I was on an all night road trip last night and spent hours watching them in the sky! It was nothing short of spectacular and I couldn't remember the last time I had seen them! I even remembered the proper name, "Aurora Borealis!"

To me, the sight almost seems 'divine.' It fills me with wonder and anticipation, just as it did when I was a child!

How do you feel when you see them?

For those who haven't... here are a couple of links:
The first one is almost exactly the same as what I saw!
http://virtual.finland.fi/finfo/images/aurora8.jpg

http://virtual.finland.fi/finfo/english/aurora_borealis.html

http://www.northern-lights.no/

http://www.iww.is/art/shs/pages/thumbs.html

Answer 1

It's been a while since I've seen the Northern Lights. (I've been in the UK for the past year). The most frequent occurrences are during the autumn and spring. I remember one July sitting on the dock overlooking a serene lake, watching the Northern Lights dance about. I was with 5 or 6 other people, and we were already in a very reflective mood. The lights were very defined and bright. We would call out shapes we recognized like how you would see shapes in clouds. It was very cool (for lack of a better word.) I think the magic of it was not just the lights themselves, but also sharing the experiences with close friends.

Answer 2

Wow! That must have been something to watch.
I have seen the northern lights, but not recently and not as spetacular as what you had seen.
I live in the city and if by chance you do get to see northern lights it is not as colorful as the sky; in the links you submitted.
Beautiful sight!
When I watch the Aurora Borealis dance across the sky it puts me in a serene sense of being; a moment to myself with thoughts of nothing, but in a state of awwwwwwww.

Answer 3

Aside from on television, I haven't seen them since I was a kid. We used to see them alot. Since our city has become larger and there are more lights, we just don't see them anymore.

We used to like to scare each other by saying that if you whistle at the northern lights, they will come down and smother you. I don't remember anyone that would whistle when they were out.

They are better than watching fireworks. I remember always feeling a sense of mystery, amazement, joy, and sometimes fear because of the reason stated above.

Answer 4

I use to see them all the time I lived in Northern Manitoba Canada and from Mid September to late May You could see them almost every night.

I moved to northern Ontario well what is considered northern and see them in January and February. So I have a few more months to go.

But Ya they are so beautiful.

Answer 5

Saw them once about ten years ago in the fall on the shore of Lake Erie. Lasted for hours. Eerie and awe inspiring at the same time.

Answer 6

Around 10 years ago in Washington State... they weren't the colorful curtains we think of when we imagine the Aurora. They were like bluish ripples in the sky, very eerie.

Answer 7

Believe it or not, I saw them all the way down in Utah! Years ago... I probably got cancer from the charged particles strong enough to jack this far south, but well worth it!

Answer 8

I've never seen them, I live in south Texax, but I know if I ever do, I'm not going outside when the sun rises.

Answer 9

I have been to Alaska and Minnesota and so far have not seen any northern lights. Maybe I need to go farther north.

Answer 10

One time here in Tn, its been at least 15 yrs now