Northern Lights

The northern lights, or aurora borealis, are one of nature’s most mesmerizing light shows. They drift across polar skies as glowing curtains, ribbons, or spirals of green, pink, purple, and pale yellow, dancing softly above landscapes or crackling with sudden bursts above starlit seas.

Northern Lights in Kirkjufell Mountain, Iceland

What causes them? They begin far above Earth, in the atmosphere of the sun. The sun continuously ejects charged particles. When these solar winds collide with Earth’s magnetic field, they are guided toward the poles and slam into atoms and molecules in our upper atmosphere. The energy from these collisions excites the atmospheric atoms, and as they return to their normal state, they release photons—the light we see as the aurora. The color depends on which gas is being excited and how high in the atmosphere the interaction occurs: green from oxygen at lower altitudes is the most common, while red, purple, and blue hues come from different energies and from nitrogen.

Northern Lights in Melgraseyrarkirkja Church

Best places and times to see them vary with the season and solar activity. The auroras are most vivid during long, dark winter nights in high-latitude regions such as Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Canada, and Alaska. Clear skies, minimal light pollution, and a little patience help, since the lights can be shy and unpredictable. The peak season tends to be late autumn to early spring, when Earth’s tilt and the sun’s activity align for frequent displays.

Northern Lights in Arngerðareyri Kastalinn

Tips for viewing:

• Get away from city lights; even a few kilometers of darkness can dramatically improve visibility.

• Check local aurora forecasts and the cloud cover for the night.

• Dress warmly and be prepared to wait, sometimes in subzero temperatures.

• Bring a tripod and a camera with manual settings if you want to photograph them; long exposures (seconds to tens of seconds) can capture the dancing curtains.

Culturally, the aurora has inspired countless legends and stories around the Arctic. Some cultures see them as the breath of spirits, others as celestial fires, or as a bridge between worlds. Today, they remain a symbol of wonder—proof that our planet still holds mysteries that glow softly in the night.

Northern Lights in Seltjarnarnes Lighthouse, Iceland

In conclusion, seeing the Northern Lights dancing in the sky is one of the most beautiful experiences you can have in life. I had the opportunity to see them dancing above my head for the first time about 20 years ago in Iceland, and it was a wonderful experience!

See you soon!

Luigi