Fairbanks, Alaska, is considered one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights.

Aurora borealis occur in the Earth’s ionosphere, and result from collisions between energetic electrons (sometimes also protons, and even heavier charged particles) and atoms and molecules in the upper atmosphere. And auroral displays around the magnetic poles of these planets are now well documented.

Auroras happen when particles from the Sun interact with gases in our atmosphere, causing beautiful displays of light in the sky. Auroras are often seen in areas near the North Pole or South Pole. If you’re ever near the North or South Pole, you may be in for a very special treat.

Polar lights (aurora polaris) are a natural phenomenon found in both the northern and southern hemispheres that can be truly awe inspiring. These particles are boosted in energy in Earth’s upper atmosphere, and when they collide with oxygen and nitrogen atoms, they produce dazzling auroral light.

It is difficult to predict the Northern Lights over the long term. Coronal mass ejections, which cause most of the solar storms and, therefore, stronger Auroras, are forecast 15 days in advance, but their strength and shape can vary once they get closer to Earth.

To observers at far-northern latitudes, they’re a frequent occurrence, but many who live in more temperate climates have never seen them, even though they’re sometimes seen as far south as 35 degrees north latitude.

It is assumed that the Borealis contained an immensely powerful and dangerous secret, most likely involving portals and teleportation on a larger scale than that of a handheld portal device, which explains how it is able to teleport away from an Aperture Science facility.

The Northern Lights most commonly appear between 5:00 pm and 2:00 am. They don’t usually exhibit for long – they may only show for a few minutes, then glide away before returning. A good display may last for no longer than 15-30 minutes at a time, although if you’re really lucky, they could last for a few hours.

As early as 1616, the astronomer Galileo Galilei used the name aurora borealis to describe them, taking the name of the mythical Roman goddess of the dawn, Aurora, and the Greek name for wind of the north, Boreas. The aurora australis, or the southern lights, occur around the south polar region.

Mercury

Pierre Gassendi

Kristian Birkeland

Some of the drawings made by Cro-Magnon people on the walls and ceilings of caves in Southern France probably depict the northern lights. These rock paintings could be the very first recordings of the northern lights in the history of mankind – they can be dated back to 30,000 years before our time.

The Aurora Borealis is most often seen in a striking green color, but it also occasionally shows off its many colors ranging from red to pink, blue to purple, dark to light. The reason that the aurora is seen in so many colors is that our atmosphere is made up of many different compounds like Oxygen and Nitrogen.

In the early 17th century, the astronomer and scientist Galileo Galilei named this phenomenon the Aurora Borealis.

The lights, which are also called aurora borealis, show up at night when the sky is dark. But even though you can’t take the lights for granted – it is, after all, a natural phenomenon, just like the weather – you are still guaranteed to experience magical light in Northern Norway all through the polar night.

The Aurora Borealis (named after the Roman goddess of dawn, Aurora, and the Greek name for the north wind, Boreas)

Here are 4 tips that should help you perfect your pronunciation of ‘aurora borealis’: Break ‘aurora borealis’ down into sounds: [UH] + [RAW] + [RUH] + [BAW] + [REE] + [AY] + [LIS] – say it out loud and exaggerate the sounds until you can consistently produce them.