Earth, Meet Sun

Strange Myths 

Over the centuries, many myths and legends have circulated about the Northern Lights. Eskimos used to believe the lights were spirits of seals, whales and caribou. The Algonquian Indians of Canada thought them to be reflections of a huge fire built by the “Great Spirit”. When the lights shone red, people of the Middle Ages thought it was a signal for impending war. And in Ancient Europe, the sight struck fear in the population who believed it signaled outbreak of death and disease.

Historically, the lights have been described as a “Dance of Spirits” or a sign of God. However, there is a very simple, logical, and, naturally, scientific, reason behind the wonder.

The Northern Lights originate from, and are the after-effects of storms on, the surface of the sun. When the storms subside, charged particles (solar wind) hurtle through outer space and collide with the Earth’s magnetic fields (in this case, the Magnetic North Pole). Though some particles circle the outermost part of the atmosphere, some leak into the upper atmosphere and collide with atoms of air. The energy from the particles is diffused and is visible on the Earth’s surface as the flickering, moving lights of the Aurora Borealis.

The Northern Lights are mostly green, with either a yellow or blue tinge. Inflections of pink, white and even violet are also visible in certain instances. Red lights are rare, but can occur when the lights are emitted at a higher or lower height than usual.