Aurora Borealis: The Mystery Behind The Lights Eric Nielson, Landon Clark, Nicole Lloyd, Nicole May, & Zack Lloyd Salt Lake Community College: Physics Spring 2011

The Legends of the Northern lights The Point Barrow Eskimos Considered the aurora an evil thing. The aboriginals of Scandinavia, the Sámi, both feared and respected the aurora. They believed the Northern Lights had supernatural power to resolve conflicts. Greenland the aurora was seen as the highest level of afterlife. Russian folklore believes the lights symbolize a fire dragon. China and Europe Some say the dragon legends could have originated for the aurora

The History of Science of the Aurora Sir Edmund Halley published the first detailed description of the aurora Pierre Gassendi, a French physicist and philosopher, named the Northern lights the Aurora Borealis

The History of Science of the Aurora Continued… Benjamin Franklin was the first to theorize the mystery of the northern lights Kristian Birkeland is credited as being the “father of modern auroral science”

Solar Flares An immense burst of solar energy Electrons fly though space at hundreds of thousands of miles per hour Energy distorts and punctures the magnetosphere

Solar Flares Continued… Charged particles funnel through the magnetosphere and into the ionosphere Collisions cause bursts of electromagnetic radiation The more intense the solar storm, the more intense the colors

Where Can I See it? Alaska North or South Poles Places far from the poles Places closer to the equator

When Can I See It? The best time to see the northern lights is from late autumn and winter to early spring, this time frame is between the autumn and spring equinox (September 21-March 21). The best time is between 6pm and 1am. When it’s DARK… The longer you stay, the greater your chance of seeing it.