Aurora Q&A

Constant eruptions on our sun eject highly charged “winds” in all directions into space, called the solar wind stream, often exceeding speeds of 1,000,000 miles per hour. When Earth-directed, these charged particles are drawn into our magnetic field, striking atoms and causing an electrical discharge process with ionospheric gases that emit the light we see as aurora.

Electrons carried along with the solar wind strike atoms of nitrogen and oxygen. Atomic oxygen creates the green aurora; nitrogen emits pink-red, blue and purple aurora; while the rarest red and orange-red aurora come from high-altitude atomic oxygen. All-sky red auroras are so rare they may happen only once or twice a decade.

The solar wind traveling along the earth’s magnetic field lines creates the patterns of aurora we see. These include homogenous arcs, bands, active arcs, rays, pillars, draperies or curtains, and coronas. The energy output of these formations can generate the equivalent of about 300+ billion kilowatts of power — but it is not within the capability of man to harness and store such power.

The aurora exists constantly as oval shapes over both Polar Regions of our Earth, as well as on other planets in our solar system such as Jupiter and Saturn. The Aurora Borealis (“Northern Lights”) is viewed far more frequently than the Aurora Australis (“Southern Lights”) because huge land masses exist in our northern hemisphere, while mostly water surrounds Antarctica. The auroral ovals are basically “born” above or near the Arctic and Antarctic Circles. As auroral activity becomes more energetic, the ovals expand far over the horizon and can be seen closer to mid-latitudes — even closer toward the equator when auroras are extremely powerful.

No! The myth is “the colder the air temperature, the better the show.” People often mistake the coldness of clear skies with auroral formation. The temperature on Earth has absolutely nothing to do with auroral activity or formation. At the nighttime edge of space where auroras occur, it is well below freezing all the time — averaging minus-250°F (minus-156°C)… Brrrr!

No! To view any aurora, one needs darkness — night, or at least some dark blue twilight. Alaskan summers do not allow a view into the Heavens because the atmosphere is too lit by our sun. One must be able to see stars to see aurora. Southern Canada and the northern-tier states can see auroras in their summer because “nighttime” still exists. Late July through early April offer the windows of opportunity to view aurora in Alaska, and December offers the most “night” to observe aurora.

Auroras are called “geomagnetic storms.” Powerful Earth-directed storms can cause great havoc by creating immense surges on power grids, transmission lines, navigation systems, radio propagation, and at satellite altitudes. Space Shuttle and International Space Station astronauts must seek protection inside when solar storms occur and auroras are present, due to higher levels of hazardous particles moving through space. The more delicate man-made systems are, the more vulnerable they are to solar events.

No! While numerous people have stated they’ve “seen the aurora touch the ground,” it has never been scientifically proven to occur that low. The recipe for auroral formation cannot exist below a certain height — typically in the vacuum of space, 60 miles above our heads. Auroras extend upward an average from about 60 miles at the lower edge to 200 miles high; very powerful auroras have been measured as high as 400–600 miles. It’s an optical illusion that auroras touch the ground, because this massive light phenomenon bends and vanishes over the curvature of the Earth, appearing to lower as we lose sight of it.

Sometimes! This is a much imprecise subject, one I’ve struggled with for well over 30 years. When trying to predict auroras over specific locales, the degree of difficulty increases a thousand-fold, as many variables must be in sync for auroral propagation to commence. Technology is bringing us closer to the day when such predictions will be more precise. Short-term forecasts are becoming more accurate, yet still are very often incorrect. Should anyone believe that world “aurora forecasters” can accurately forecast aurora on any night of the year in any location, I urge them to dress warmly and go out under the stars to wait patiently for every prediction issued — the total of “blank” nights experienced and the lost sleep will be staggering. Good luck!

Mostly it takes the “patience of a glacier,” with some cold fingers and toes. If you have a good manual or digital 35mm SLR camera (not a “point & shoot”), a cable release, and a tripod, you’re almost ready to go. Pick out a variety of “fast” lenses you enjoy working with and a nice dark location. Play with long and short exposures, because the aurora evolves in seconds. With a digital SLR you’ll need to learn the pros and cons of having a battery-dependent computer out in sub-zero temperatures — digital equipment is fragile, and not all digital cameras are created equal. The more expensive high-end digital SLRs and lenses offer the best and most accurate photographic capabilities. The objective is to show the beauty of any aurora as close as possible to what the eye truly sees. The real key to successful auroral photography: Be There!

And remember — SAFETY COMES FIRST. No photograph is worth getting frostbitten body parts for. Stay warm!

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