One of the most stunning sights in the night sky is the Northern Lights. Colorful streaks of green, pink, blue and purple stretch across the sky, creating a light show.

The aurora forms when charged particles from the sun collide with Earth’s upper atmosphere at incredible speeds- up to 45 million mph (72 million kph). Thankfully, our planet’s magnetic field acts as a protective shield, preventing these solar particles from causing harm while creating the stunning spectacle we know as the northern lights.

Where and When Can You See the Northern Lights?

The best places to see the aurora are regions close to the Arctic Circle. Countries like Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, and Canada are popular destinations. However, during strong solar activity, the lights can extend further south, and recently, even Poland was treated to this rare phenomenon! In some parts of the country, people saw streaks of red, pink and green glowing against the night sky.

Winter is the best time to see the Northern Lights because of the long, dark nights. The best hours are between 10 PM and 2 AM. For the best experience, find a remote area far from city lights, and check aurora forecasts to pick the best time and place.

The colors of the aurora depend on the type of gas and the altitude where the collisions occur. Green is the most common, produced by oxygen around 100 km above Earth. Higher up, red can appear, while nitrogen at lower altitudes gives off shades of blue and purple.

Green- Created by oxygen around 100 km up.

Red- Produced by oxygen higher in the atmosphere, above 200 km.

Blue and Purple- A result of nitrogen lower in the atmosphere.


I think Northern Lights are something that everyone should see in their life. Seeing these colors with your own eyes is definitely something unforgettable! I really want to see beautiful aurora in the north one day!