Spectacular Northern Lights: A Closer Look at the Northern Lights

It’s a night I will never forget. Sailing south along the fjords of Norway aboard a Hurtigruten ship, we had spent the better part of a week searching for the lights, without success. On the last evening of the trip, the guides on board lowered their expectations. Even though the sky might be in turmoil, the big snowstorm that was coming was going to completely obscure visibility. So you shouldn’t expect to see an aurora borealis.

But hope is a strange thing. Even with such uncertain forecasts, hope remains and persists, there, in the back of the mind. So I added my name to a list of people ready to be woken up if the sky lit up, whatever the time. The announcement would be made via the cabin telephone.

I was packing my suitcase in my room for an early flight on disembarkation day, wearing only basketball shorts and a light t-shirt. A voice was heard on the phone: lights have been spotted. Come quickly. With this weather, they won’t last long.

Slipping a pair of boat shoes onto my bare feet, I hastily grabbed the first jacket that came to hand. Rushing toward the open decks, I first felt the cold of a late winter night, soon followed by complete and utter wonder.

The sky was alive. It sparkled and sparkled. Sometimes in vibrant waves, other times in strands and tendrils, like a painter’s brushstroke. It is an ebb and flow of energy and force. In this case it was even more spectacular, with the backdrop of the twinkling lights of a sleepy little town on the port shore.

A few minutes later, the show was over. The forecast was indeed correct and the predicted snowstorm arrived, turning the Norwegian night white in an instant. Arriving on a subarctic wind, the flakes fell so quickly that I had the impression that the curtain was closing on the most spectacular spectacle that nature could offer.

The science behind the Northern Lights

No matter how much we prepare for it, it must be said: you have never, ever seen anything like the Northern Lights. The Northern Lights remain one of the most sought-after natural phenomena in the world. And rightly so, because they are as magnificent as they are elusive.

That night in the fjords, many years ago, was the first time I saw them. Since then, I have had the honor and privilege of seeing the Northern Lights around ten times. And, each time, the enthusiasm is always renewed.

As winter begins to approach the high latitudes, there is some good news. In 2025, the Sun will reach the peak of an eleven-year solar cycle, its “solar maximum.” This means that as a reward for enduring the cold, hardy souls living in places like New York and Chicago will have a greater chance of witnessing this marvel.

But what is the exact cause of this strange phenomenon? The explanation is not magical, but it is no less fascinating. Particles charged by the Sun and carried by solar winds enter the Earth’s upper atmosphere above the magnetic fields (which protect us) at northern latitudes. When interacting with oxygen and nitrogen, these collisions create magnificent flashes of light. During a solar storm – sometimes described as a sneeze of the sun – the auroras are unleashed.

There is a common misconception that the Northern Lights are seasonal. In reality, this is not the case. It is the inhabitants of the Far North who see them most often, but only in winter. In summer there is daylight 24 hours a day and it is therefore impossible to see them during this season.

A sign of luck and fortune

There are many legends about the Northern Lights. For example, the Japanese believe that if they conceive a child under the Northern Lights, the child will be lucky and will be blessed not only with intelligence, but also with good looks. I first heard this while visiting Churchill, a small community in northern Manitoba.

Located on the shores of Hudson Bay, directly on the migratory route of the largest land carnivores, Churchill is the polar bear capital of the world. On one of my visits, a hands-on guide took me on a nature hike. As is often the case with Churchill, he carried a rifle to protect himself from a chance encounter with bears. For him, this rifle also served as a wand to point out the subarctic vegetation along the path. (We did encounter a polar bear during the hike, but at some distance.)

In winter, he shuttles Japanese couples to some disused Cold War-era domes. These domes were equipped with everything needed for a romantic encounter. “I drop them off and wait for them with a newspaper until they are ready to go back to town,” he explains.

Unforgettable memories

Perhaps my most memorable encounter with the Northern Lights was during a trip to the Swedish Arctic with my father. Aboard a large wooden sled pulled by happy dogs, we arrived at a wood fire lit in the middle of the snow. Our guide served us hot lingonberry juice.

We were warm in our insulated suits. The sky danced with so much life, and the solar winds vibrated and blew. It is a sight that is never the same and has no equal – splendid, brilliant and glorious. Either way, it’s another night I’ll never forget.

Three tips for photographing the Northern Lights

Night photography is very difficult. But when you see the Northern Lights, you need a souvenir to remember it by. Here are three tips for capturing an image that you will treasure for the rest of your life.

Stabilize your device

Consider bringing a tripod, even for your phone. The slightest movement can produce a blurry image.

Take the height

If you’re using a DSLR, a wide-angle lens will help you capture the vastness of the night sky.

Choose the right app

Let’s be real: most of us will use our phone to take that photo. Apps can be helpful. For an iPhone, NightCap Camera is a good app.