The Northern Lights are a celestial light show predominantly seen in high-latitude regions around the Arctic. They occur when charged particles from the sun collide with atoms in Earth’s atmosphere, causing bursts of light. These lights can manifest in various colors, including green, pink, red, yellow, blue, and violet, with green being the most common. The spectacle is both mysterious and mesmerizing, with shifting shapes and intensities that make each viewing unique.

A Journey Through Myth and Science

The allure of the Northern Lights goes beyond their beauty. They have been a source of myths and legends in many cultures. The Vikings believed they were reflections of the Valkyries’ armor, guiding warriors to Valhalla. In Finnish folklore, they were thought to be caused by a fox sweeping its tail across the snow, creating sparks that lit up the sky.

While ancient stories add a layer of enchantment, modern science provides a different kind of wonder. The Northern Lights are a result of solar wind—a stream of charged particles from the sun—interacting with Earth’s magnetic field. When these particles collide with oxygen and nitrogen in the atmosphere, they emit light, creating the vivid displays we see.