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• ” Summer, he says, is off-limits, because the northern skies are too light at that time of year Passy
  
  ”The biggest aurorae, he says, are caused by coronal mass ejections Passy
  
  Northern lights on show in Scotland (Getty Images/iStockphoto)RecommendedCheap US flights from London launch as another Norwegian airline takes offWizz Air suspends Moldova flights over security fearsHow to do Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi by train“The biggest aurorae of all are caused by much rarer and more energetic events called coronal mass ejections, or CMEs,” Ridpath says Passy
  
  “I’ve even known them to appear as it starts to get dark in the afternoon Passy
  
  truncatedName}}Log in / Register {{#items}}{{#stampSmall}}{{/stampSmall}}{{#stampClimate}}{{/stampClimate}}{{#stampPremium}}{{/stampPremium}}{{title}}{{#desc}}{{desc}}{{/desc}}{{#children}}{{title}}{{/children}}{{/items}}Indy100Crosswords & PuzzlesMost CommentedNewslettersAsk Me AnythingVirtual EventsVouchersCompare✕Log inEmail addressPasswordEmail and password don't matchSubmitForgotten your password?New to The Independent?RegisterOr if you would prefer:SIGN IN WITH GOOGLEWant an ad-free experience?View offersThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy notice and Terms of service apply Passy
  
  The lights – the Latin name, aurora borealis, meaning ‘Northern dawn’ because their appearance low on the horizon gives the impression of a false daybreak – can appear as shifting arcs, vertical rays or long curtains that ripple like drapery blowing in a breeze Passy
  
  But the lights can occur further south at times Passy
  
  So be sure to have dinner early and get changed in readiness Passy
  
  “The only way to be sure is to go outside and keep your eyes peeled Passy
  
  Visit spaceweather Passy
  
  ”But ultimately, this is mother nature, and nature is a fickle beast Passy
  
  They are one of nature’s most jaw-dropping sights – a spectacular celestial dance across Arctic skies that features on most, if not all, travellers’ bucket lists Passy
  
  What are they?“Put simply, the Northern Lights are an electrical phenomenon in the Earth’s upper atmosphere that produces ghostly glowing shapes that move and flow,” Ridpath says Passy
  
  “These are huge bubbles of gas thrown off by magnetic storms on the sun, and when one of these hits us, the auroral oval expands so much that you can see lights in southern England and right down to the Mediterranean Passy
  
  fullName}}My Independent Premium Account details Help centre Logout @keyframes slidedown-video{0%{transform:translateY(-100%)}to{transform:translateY(0)}}@keyframes slideup-video{0%{transform:translateY(200%)}to{transform:translateY(0)}}@keyframes spin{0%{transform:rotate(0)}to{transform:rotate(1turn)}} Passy
  
  ” But there’s no point heading out on a hunt if the sky is completely overcast Passy
  
  “There’s a continual flow of gas away from the sun called the solar wind (never say ‘solar winds’, plural, as you’ll betray your inexperience with the terminology),” Ridpath says Passy
  
  “This ring is called the auroral oval, and it passes over Alaska, Canada, southern Greenland, Iceland, northern Scandinavia and Siberia Passy
  
  And their varying colours are a result of different gases in the upper atmosphere Passy
  
  “This myth should have been well and truly busted over the past few years when we have had fabulous aurorae even though there have been hardly any sunspots Passy
  
  ”More aboutNorthern LightsIceland travelAurora BorealisLaplandJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments 1/2When can I see the Northern Lights? A complete guide When can I see the Northern Lights? A complete guideNorthern lights on show in ScotlandGetty Images/iStockphotoWhen can I see the Northern Lights? A complete guideAn expert tells us everything you need to know about spotting the elusive aurora borealis   ✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today Passy
  
  But what exactly are the ethereal aurora borealis, and what’s the best way to spot them? The Royal Astronomical Society’s Ian Ridpath explains everything you need to know about the Northern Lights Passy
  
  ” When can I see them?“You can find forecasts of activity online, but I’m sceptical of their usefulness as they are often wrong,” Ridpath says Passy
  
  ”Why do they occur? RecommendedNorthern lights captured dancing in sky above Oxfordshire in rare sightingConstance Marten: The runaway heiress, her rapist partner and the aristocratic family riftUkraine war news – live: Russia closes airspace and Putin’s spy plane destroyed“The Northern Lights are caused by atomic particles from the sun being funnelled down the Earth’s magnetic lines of force into a ring around the poles,” Ridpath says Passy
  
  Hi {{indy Passy
  
  ”In short, their presence is all about wind Passy
  
  Where should I go? Your best bet is to head due north towards the Arctic – above latitude 60 at least – to the snowy wilds of Alaska and Canada or, a bit closer to home, to Iceland or northern Scandinavia (more commonly known as Lapland) Passy
  
  “The biggest enemy is, of course, the weather – if it’s cloudy you won’t see anything, because the lights occur at heights of 60 miles and above, which is way, way above the highest clouds,” Ridpath says Passy
  
  That’s because the human eye doesn’t pick up faint colour well Passy
  
  If the aurora is very bright, however, it can appear greenish or yellowish and some have a beautiful fringe of pink at the bottom Passy
  
  Research has shown that autumn is a particularly fortuitous time because, as well as increasingly dark skies and less cloud cover, the solar storms are stronger at this time of the year and the tilt of the Earth during the equinox drives the strongest solar winds towards the planet’s poles, leading to gob-smacking Northern Lights displays Passy
  
  SubscribeAlready subscribed? Log inMost PopularSponsored FeaturesVoucher CodesTravelodge Discount Code5% off all bookings with this Travelodge discount codeTUI Discount CodeSave £200 on 2023 holidays with this TUI discount codeBarcelo Discount CodeExtra 15% off Balearic Islands reservation with Barcelo promo codeVery Discount CodeExtra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at VeryQVC discount codeAt least 15% off beauty items at QVCIndy / CompareCompare UK Broadband DealsCompare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for youCheap Broadband Deals in 2023Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your areaFibre Broadband Deals February 2023All you need to know about fibre broadbandBest Apple iPhone Deals in the UK February 2023Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this FebruaryCompare Mobile Phone DealsCompare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands Get in touchContact usJobs Our ProductsSubscribeRegisterNewslettersDonateInstall our appArchiveOther publicationsInternational editionsIndependent en EspañolIndependent ArabiaIndependent TurkishIndependent PersianIndependent UrduEvening StandardNovaya GazetaExtrasAdvisorPuzzlesAll topicsVoucher codesCompareIndependent AdvertisingSyndicationWorking at The IndependentLegalCode of conduct and complaintsContributorsCookie policyDonations Terms & ConditionsPrivacy noticeUser policiesModern Slavery Act Thank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inCloseUS EditionChangeUK EditionAsia EditionEdición en EspañolSubscribe{{indy Passy
  
  “The lights can appear at any time of night,” Ridpath says Passy
  
  It also helps to pick dates that avoid a full moon and to visit locations well away from the light pollution caused by large settlements Passy
  
  “It’s beautiful and impressive, but while we can take you to where the prey lives, we can’t guarantee that it will show itself Passy
  
  com for useful, up-to-date information about aurorae and solar activity Passy
  
  “The force of the solar wind changes all the time, and the size and the brightness of the auroral oval changes with it Passy
  
  “To the eye, they are more greyish in colour, almost like a cloud Passy
  
  ” Northern Lights across the UK - in picturesShow all 61/6Northern Lights across the UK - in pictures Northern Lights across the UK - in picturesThe beautiful colours of light shining through the Sycamore Gap at Hadrian's Wall in NorthumberlandPANorthern Lights across the UK - in picturesThe sky surrounding St Mary's Lighthouse in Whitley Bay, NorthumberlandPANorthern Lights across the UK - in picturesThis shot was taken in NorthumberlandGraeme Stoker/TwitterNorthern Lights across the UK - in picturesThe beautiful skies could be spotted across the sea in Giant's Causeway, Northern IrelandCaroline Burgess/TwitterNorthern Lights across the UK - in picturesThe lights seen over Great Park in NewcastlePANorthern Lights across the UK - in picturesA beach in Saltburn, North YorkshireDarren Saltburn/Twitter “But don’t expect them to appear bright green like in photographs,” Ridpath warns Passy
  
  What you see depends on the sensitivity of your eyes, and, of course, everybody’s eyes are different Passy
  
  “There’s a long-standing myth that the lights are caused by sunspots and solar flares, but they’re not,” he says Passy
  
  But the most likely time is mid evening and into the early hours of the following morning (about 9pm to 2am) Passy
  
  “I always say that hunting the northern lights is like a big game hunt,” Ridpath says Passy
  
  “The best times to go are from late September to late March — in other words, between the equinoxes,” he advises Passy
  
  
  
  fullName}}My Independent Premium Account details Help centre Logout @keyframes slidedown-video{0%{transform:translateY(-100%)}to{transform:translateY(0)}}@keyframes slideup-video{0%{transform:translateY(200%)}to{transform:translateY(0)}}@keyframes spin{0%{transform:rotate(0)}to{transform:rotate(1turn)}} Passy
  
  “This myth should have been well and truly busted over the past few years when we have had fabulous aurorae even though there have been hardly any sunspots Passy
  
  SubscribeAlready subscribed? Log inMost PopularSponsored FeaturesVoucher CodesTravelodge Discount Code5% off all bookings with this Travelodge discount codeTUI Discount CodeSave £200 on 2023 holidays with this TUI discount codeBarcelo Discount CodeExtra 15% off Balearic Islands reservation with Barcelo promo codeVery Discount CodeExtra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at VeryQVC discount codeAt least 15% off beauty items at QVCIndy / CompareCompare UK Broadband DealsCompare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for youCheap Broadband Deals in 2023Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your areaFibre Broadband Deals February 2023All you need to know about fibre broadbandBest Apple iPhone Deals in the UK February 2023Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this FebruaryCompare Mobile Phone DealsCompare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands Get in touchContact usJobs Our ProductsSubscribeRegisterNewslettersDonateInstall our appArchiveOther publicationsInternational editionsIndependent en EspañolIndependent ArabiaIndependent TurkishIndependent PersianIndependent UrduEvening StandardNovaya GazetaExtrasAdvisorPuzzlesAll topicsVoucher codesCompareIndependent AdvertisingSyndicationWorking at The IndependentLegalCode of conduct and complaintsContributorsCookie policyDonations Terms & ConditionsPrivacy noticeUser policiesModern Slavery Act Thank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inCloseUS EditionChangeUK EditionAsia EditionEdición en EspañolSubscribe{{indy Passy
  
  Research has shown that autumn is a particularly fortuitous time because, as well as increasingly dark skies and less cloud cover, the solar storms are stronger at this time of the year and the tilt of the Earth during the equinox drives the strongest solar winds towards the planet’s poles, leading to gob-smacking Northern Lights displays Passy
  
  Where should I go? Your best bet is to head due north towards the Arctic – above latitude 60 at least – to the snowy wilds of Alaska and Canada or, a bit closer to home, to Iceland or northern Scandinavia (more commonly known as Lapland) Passy
  
  “This ring is called the auroral oval, and it passes over Alaska, Canada, southern Greenland, Iceland, northern Scandinavia and Siberia Passy
  
  “The best times to go are from late September to late March — in other words, between the equinoxes,” he advises Passy
  
  “The biggest enemy is, of course, the weather – if it’s cloudy you won’t see anything, because the lights occur at heights of 60 miles and above, which is way, way above the highest clouds,” Ridpath says Passy
  
  ”More aboutNorthern LightsIceland travelAurora BorealisLaplandJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments 1/2When can I see the Northern Lights? A complete guide When can I see the Northern Lights? A complete guideNorthern lights on show in ScotlandGetty Images/iStockphotoWhen can I see the Northern Lights? A complete guideAn expert tells us everything you need to know about spotting the elusive aurora borealis   ✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today Passy
  
  What you see depends on the sensitivity of your eyes, and, of course, everybody’s eyes are different Passy
  
  But the lights can occur further south at times Passy
  
  ”But ultimately, this is mother nature, and nature is a fickle beast Passy
  
  Visit spaceweather Passy
  
  “The lights can appear at any time of night,” Ridpath says Passy
  
  “The force of the solar wind changes all the time, and the size and the brightness of the auroral oval changes with it Passy
  
  truncatedName}}Log in / Register {{#items}}{{#stampSmall}}{{/stampSmall}}{{#stampClimate}}{{/stampClimate}}{{#stampPremium}}{{/stampPremium}}{{title}}{{#desc}}{{desc}}{{/desc}}{{#children}}{{title}}{{/children}}{{/items}}Indy100Crosswords & PuzzlesMost CommentedNewslettersAsk Me AnythingVirtual EventsVouchersCompare✕Log inEmail addressPasswordEmail and password don't matchSubmitForgotten your password?New to The Independent?RegisterOr if you would prefer:SIGN IN WITH GOOGLEWant an ad-free experience?View offersThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy notice and Terms of service apply Passy
  
  It also helps to pick dates that avoid a full moon and to visit locations well away from the light pollution caused by large settlements Passy
  
  ”In short, their presence is all about wind Passy
  
  ” But there’s no point heading out on a hunt if the sky is completely overcast Passy
  
  They are one of nature’s most jaw-dropping sights – a spectacular celestial dance across Arctic skies that features on most, if not all, travellers’ bucket lists Passy
  
  ” Summer, he says, is off-limits, because the northern skies are too light at that time of year Passy
  
  Northern lights on show in Scotland (Getty Images/iStockphoto)RecommendedCheap US flights from London launch as another Norwegian airline takes offWizz Air suspends Moldova flights over security fearsHow to do Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi by train“The biggest aurorae of all are caused by much rarer and more energetic events called coronal mass ejections, or CMEs,” Ridpath says Passy
  
  “I’ve even known them to appear as it starts to get dark in the afternoon Passy
  
  So be sure to have dinner early and get changed in readiness Passy
  
  The lights – the Latin name, aurora borealis, meaning ‘Northern dawn’ because their appearance low on the horizon gives the impression of a false daybreak – can appear as shifting arcs, vertical rays or long curtains that ripple like drapery blowing in a breeze Passy
  
  “I always say that hunting the northern lights is like a big game hunt,” Ridpath says Passy
  
  Hi {{indy Passy
  
  But the most likely time is mid evening and into the early hours of the following morning (about 9pm to 2am) Passy
  
  “There’s a long-standing myth that the lights are caused by sunspots and solar flares, but they’re not,” he says Passy
  
  ”Why do they occur? RecommendedNorthern lights captured dancing in sky above Oxfordshire in rare sightingConstance Marten: The runaway heiress, her rapist partner and the aristocratic family riftUkraine war news – live: Russia closes airspace and Putin’s spy plane destroyed“The Northern Lights are caused by atomic particles from the sun being funnelled down the Earth’s magnetic lines of force into a ring around the poles,” Ridpath says Passy
  
  ”The biggest aurorae, he says, are caused by coronal mass ejections Passy
  
  ” Northern Lights across the UK - in picturesShow all 61/6Northern Lights across the UK - in pictures Northern Lights across the UK - in picturesThe beautiful colours of light shining through the Sycamore Gap at Hadrian's Wall in NorthumberlandPANorthern Lights across the UK - in picturesThe sky surrounding St Mary's Lighthouse in Whitley Bay, NorthumberlandPANorthern Lights across the UK - in picturesThis shot was taken in NorthumberlandGraeme Stoker/TwitterNorthern Lights across the UK - in picturesThe beautiful skies could be spotted across the sea in Giant's Causeway, Northern IrelandCaroline Burgess/TwitterNorthern Lights across the UK - in picturesThe lights seen over Great Park in NewcastlePANorthern Lights across the UK - in picturesA beach in Saltburn, North YorkshireDarren Saltburn/Twitter “But don’t expect them to appear bright green like in photographs,” Ridpath warns Passy
  
  “To the eye, they are more greyish in colour, almost like a cloud Passy
  
  “The only way to be sure is to go outside and keep your eyes peeled Passy
  
  What are they?“Put simply, the Northern Lights are an electrical phenomenon in the Earth’s upper atmosphere that produces ghostly glowing shapes that move and flow,” Ridpath says Passy
  
  “There’s a continual flow of gas away from the sun called the solar wind (never say ‘solar winds’, plural, as you’ll betray your inexperience with the terminology),” Ridpath says Passy
  
  And their varying colours are a result of different gases in the upper atmosphere Passy
  
  That’s because the human eye doesn’t pick up faint colour well Passy
  
  But what exactly are the ethereal aurora borealis, and what’s the best way to spot them? The Royal Astronomical Society’s Ian Ridpath explains everything you need to know about the Northern Lights Passy
  
  “It’s beautiful and impressive, but while we can take you to where the prey lives, we can’t guarantee that it will show itself Passy
  
  com for useful, up-to-date information about aurorae and solar activity Passy
  
  “These are huge bubbles of gas thrown off by magnetic storms on the sun, and when one of these hits us, the auroral oval expands so much that you can see lights in southern England and right down to the Mediterranean Passy
  
  If the aurora is very bright, however, it can appear greenish or yellowish and some have a beautiful fringe of pink at the bottom Passy
  
  ” When can I see them?“You can find forecasts of activity online, but I’m sceptical of their usefulness as they are often wrong,” Ridpath says Passy