Going on Tour: The Northern Lights are making rare appearances at southern venues

For many, the celestial wonder that is the Northern Lights is a bucket list item well worth traveling thousands of miles to northern latitudes to see. But lately, people living as far south as New Mexico don’t have to travel any farther than their back doors to see the breathtaking phenomenon. This leaves many wondering: what exactly are the Northern Lights, and why are they suddenly visible to so many?

The Northern Lights, scientifically known as the aurora borealis, are a colorful display of swirling lights typically observed in areas near the North Pole (the similar but less famous southern lights, or aurora australis, can be seen near the South Pole). This phenomenon occurs when negatively charged particles called electrons are emitted by the sun during a solar flare, a process called a coronal mass ejection.  These electrons then travel along the path of the Earth’s magnetic field to the north and south pole, where some enter the Earth’s atmosphere and collide with gas particles, emitting photons– or light particles- with wavelengths we perceive as color. The colors we observe depend on the elevation and the composition of the atmospheric gasses. Green, the most common color, and red are produced by oxygen, while nitrogen produces blue and purple light.

The best places to observe these lights are typically at northern latitudes in places such as Canada, Alaska, and northern Europe. So why have we been seeing these lights so far south? During stronger storms when the particles emitted have more energy, they are able to travel farther. Currently, the sun is at a solar maximum, which is a peak in solar activity that fluctuates in a cycle lasting approximately eleven years. During this time, solar flares are more frequent and intense, resulting in prime aurora conditions.

To see when the lights are in the forecast near you, check the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Aurora Dashboard. Experts expect this solar maximum will last until 2026, so there is still ample opportunity to catch a glimpse of nature’s best light show of the decade!