Aurora Borealis in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories - Northern Lights Time Lapses

An aurora, also commonly known as the polar lights or northern lights, is a natural light display in Earth's sky, predominantly seen in high-latitude regions (around the Arctic and Antarctic). Auroras display dynamic patterns of brilliant lights that appear as curtains, rays, spirals, or dynamic flickers covering the entire sky with greens, blues, purples, and sometimes even pinks or reds.

Auroras are the result of disturbances in the magnetosphere caused by the solar wind. Major disturbances result from enhancements in the speed of the solar wind from coronal holes and coronal mass ejections. These disturbances alter the trajectories of charged particles in the magnetospheric plasma. These particles, mainly electrons and protons, precipitate into the upper atmosphere (thermosphere/exosphere). The resulting ionization and excitation of atmospheric constituents emit light of varying colour and complexity. The form of the aurora, occurring within bands around both polar regions, is also dependent on the amount of acceleration imparted to the precipitating particles.

Most of the planets in the Solar System, some natural satellites, brown dwarfs, and even comets also host auroras.

The Northwest Territories is the world's Northern Lights mecca, where the aurora dance an average of 200 nights per year. Why are the Northern Lights so frequent in the NWT? Because Canada's subarctic is blessed with crystal-clear nights, ultra-low humidity, and a perfect location directly beneath the Earth's band of maximal Auroral activity – the "Auroral oval.”

Watch the stunning Aurora Borealis over the world famous houseboats and from Bush Pilot's Monument. Yellowknife has experienced an aurora borealis tourism boom the last few years and the Ingraham Trail is the prime viewing location. It is common to come across aurora rush after midnight during the peak aurora season, November to March.

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[corbinbixler]

That is just heavenly. I am longing to live there. I have been to the boundary waters several times and fell in love with Canada as a young boy. I live in Indiana. Southern in. At that. I dont get to see anything like that anymore. Haven’t been to Canada in 20 years

[Noname-yusx]

What’s the best time to see the Aurora? I’m planning to go this year

[ultrametric]

Cue the dippy, irritating music. God forbid we enjoy a majestic display in silence.