UPPER ATMOSPHERE
They generate here as gas gets
bombarded by electronically
charged particles from the sun.
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
Astronauts on board the International
Space Station are at the same altitude as
the auroras and see them from the side.
AURORAL OVAL
Within this area (2500km around Earth’s magnetic
pole) is the perfect spot for seeing aurora
WORDS
BEN THORNTON HARWOOD
ILLUSTRATION
CALLUM LEWIS
I C O N S
The story behind the most
famous landmarks around
the network
Northern Lights
THE FACTS
LOCATION
MAINLY
ARCTIC CIRCLE
AGE
FIRST RECORDED
350BC
FULL NAME
AURORA BOREALIS
CAUSE
SOLAR PARTICLES
HITTING ATMOSPHERE
BEST TIME TO SEE THEM
NOW!
visitreykjavik.is/northern-lights
HISTORY LESSON
ELEMENTAL STATE
Colours are caused by different gasses
10pm
best time to look for them
eleven
Year cycle for optimal conditions
1989
Seen as far south as Cuba
620
The height the displays can occur
in miles
WHERE ARE THEY?
NOWAND VENN
Northern Lights
Lights
in the
sky
Philip
Pullman
novel
The first well-
known tourist
to visit the
frozen north
was Prince Louis
Philippe in 1789.
FIGURATIVELY SPEAKING
He
O
2
Nitrogen causes a
blue or red.
N
2
Oxygen usually
causes a green or
brownish-red display.
Helium produces
green or purple
SNAP HAPPY
How to photograph them
01
Take a sturdy tripod. And make
sure it’s tall, as you’ll spend a lot
of time looking upwards.
02
If shooting with a DSLR, use
a super wide-angle lens as these
allow for a wide field of view.
03
Set shutter speed to between
8 and 15 seconds. This will
maximise the effect.
04
Use a remote switch. Not
touching the camera means less
chance of vibration
05
Batteries work better when
warm. Keep spares close to your
skin so they’re ready for use.
li hts generat here wh n
gas gets bombarded by harged
particles from the sun.
it i t i
( ,5 0k around Earth’s magnetic
l ) i t
f t
t f
i
.
INTERNA IO L SPACE T TION
Astronauts board the International
Space Station are at the same altitud s
the auroras nd see them from the side.
2 0 2
