northern lights?

Question

can anyone tell me if i can see the northern lights from fredericton new brunswick?

if so where would i look and what time and what time of year is the best....some people have told me they have seen them...i have seen pictures....but i want to see them first hand

Answer 1

The more active the sun is the farther south auroras become visible. The farther south you go the less likely it is that you will see an aurora on any particular night. From New Brunswick you might expect to see auroras several times a year except at times of solar inactivity. We are currently near the "solar minimum", a time of little solar activity. Solar activity will steadily increase and peak around 2011 "solar maximum"(it follows an 11 year cycle).

In late October and November 2003, the sun went haywire. During a stormy two-week period, three giant sunspots unleashed eleven X-flares, including an X-28 monster--the most powerful solar flare ever recorded. Auroras appeared in Florida, Texas, Australia and many other places where they are seldom seen.

Answer 2

the Northern lights, also called the Aurora Borealis, depends on solar flares to erupt from the surface of the sun and they may hit anywhere in the north (or the south, called the Aurora Austrailialis) at any time, winter time might be the best due to the longer nights that we have. might want to go somewhere that is free from all the light pollution (the orange glow you see at night) for best results.

Answer 3

You could possibly see them from your location during periods of heightened solar activity. However, the sun is currently in a quiet phase, which will last for a couple more years, before things heat up again.
You can find out current solar activity, and geomagnetic activity at
http://www.sel.noaa.gov

Answer 4

I have seen the northern lights from as far as seacoast New Hampshire. If the sun's magnetic storms are right you will see them.