When is the best time to see the Aurora Borealis?

Question

I've always wanted to see it....when is the best time of the year? Where is the best location?

Answer 1

try

Answer 2

Auroras are caused when charged particles from the Sun are funneled by Earth's magnetic field into the upper atmosphere. As such, there is no "best time" of the year to see them, though they do increase in frequency shortly after solar flares and similar phenomena. As for location, the closer you are to either magnetic pole, the better. The Aurora Borealis you mention are seen near the north pole, and the Aurora Australis, or "southern lights", are seen from – you guessed it – the south pole.

Answer 3

As explained above the Aurora Borealis is caused by the sun. The sun peaks in terms of number of sunspots. As the sun moves over the years the magnetic field becomes tangled up. When the field lines are at their most "tangled" the number of sun sports peak.

I seem to remember it peaks every 11 years. So its best to veiw at a peak.

Answer 4

The best location is as far north as you can get. There is not best time of year, since it depends on a coronal mass ejection or major solar flare leaving the Sun and heading straight towards Earth, and they can't be predicted with any certainty. When we do see a coronal mass ejection or solar flare leaving the Sun, then we have 2-4 days before it "impacts" Earth. This website has more info: http://www.spaceweather.com/

Answer 5

You can see the Aurora even in the northern U.S states and southern Canada, just less often than in Alaska. I think fall is the best time.

Answer 6

Ya gotta be far north, like Alaska, time of year doesn't really matter, it has to do with sun spots and solar flares on the sun itself, but there are websites that can predict occurances, and of course you're more likely to see the northern lights at night.