# Have You Ever Seen The AURORA BOREALIS? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 1, 2003, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-the-aurora-borealis/165698 "2003-04-01T13:51:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-the-aurora-borealis/165698/21 "2003-04-01T17:27:03Z")
There was one night last year where we could actually see them as far south as Kansas, believe it or not. I’m sure it was not as spectacular as it would be further north, but it was still impressive. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-the-aurora-borealis/165698/22 "2003-04-01T17:35:21Z")
I would have seen the Aurora here if the local Fox affiliate hadn’t been cryptic about their coverage of the event. “Why’s the sky pink? Stay tuned to find out!” Morons. ---
**Author:** ![Politzania](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ab097/32.png) [@Politzania](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Politzania)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-the-aurora-borealis/165698/23 "2003-04-01T18:48:38Z")
August 2000 - west coast of Lower Michigan. It was like being inside a [plasma ball](http://www.coolstuffcheap.com/8plasbal.html) – streamers of bluish-greenish light moving between the horizon and a point overhead. IIRC - sunspots are on a 14-year cycle - so plan a trip Up North (Or Down Under) mid-year 2014 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-the-aurora-borealis/165698/24 "2003-04-01T19:23:04Z")
- - - It was visible in St Louis a while back one night, it was faint pink haze around the northern horizon for maybe 3-4 hours. I am in my early 30’s and that’s the first time I can ever remember hearing that it was visible here. ~ ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-the-aurora-borealis/165698/25 "2003-04-01T19:26:40Z")
"Oh roar a roar for Nora, Nora Alice in the night, for she has seen Aurora Borealis burning bright. A furore for our Nora, and applaud Aurora seen! Where throughout the summer has our Borealis been?" Walt Kelly ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-the-aurora-borealis/165698/26 "2003-04-01T19:34:32Z")
> [@](#): > > Have You Ever Seen The AURORA BOREALIS? Why, is it missing? Dammit! We need a Groucho smilie! ---
**Author:** ![ForgottenLore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5e9695/32.png) [@ForgottenLore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ForgottenLore)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-the-aurora-borealis/165698/27 "2003-04-01T19:40:34Z")
I live in central Minnesota, and every once in a while it is visible from here. I’ve seen it a few times. ---
**Author:** ![kylen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@kylen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kylen)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-the-aurora-borealis/165698/28 "2003-04-01T19:47:23Z")
I grew about about 53 degrees north, and I saw them on a number of occasions. Never been far enough north to hear 'em though. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-the-aurora-borealis/165698/29 "2003-04-01T19:55:08Z")
Here’s a map that shows basically how big a magnetic storm has to be to see aurora in the USA: [http://www.sec.noaa.gov/info/kp-aurora.html](http://www.sec.noaa.gov/info/kp-aurora.html) In Boston, you’re as likely to see the aurora as I am in Chicago. I saw a display at the end of October 2001, and IIRC it was so big that it was visible over most of the US, even in Arizona. The peak of the 11-year sunspot cycle was in 2000-2001, so it’s less likely you’ll see an aurora until the next peak. You can get warnings of aurora e-mailed to you from two places: [http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/proamcollab/](http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/proamcollab/) (Astro Alerts) [http://www.sec.noaa.gov/alerts/register.html](http://www.sec.noaa.gov/alerts/register.html) Lots more info here: [http://www.spacew.com/](http://www.spacew.com/) (also sighting reports during an aurora) [http://www.sec.noaa.gov/Education/](http://www.sec.noaa.gov/Education/) [http://www.spaceweather.com/](http://www.spaceweather.com/) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Peyote_Coyote)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-the-aurora-borealis/165698/30 "2003-04-01T20:24:20Z")
Saw them once in southern Indiana (the Louisville metropolitan area) more than 10 years ago. A big red blob and green and white fountains. Incredible sight. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-the-aurora-borealis/165698/31 "2003-04-01T20:40:04Z")
[I once saw an aurora while flying my plane!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=134497) ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-the-aurora-borealis/165698/32 "2003-04-01T22:45:51Z")
Driving up the NJ turnpike one time. It took me awhile to figure out what I was seeing, since this is the last place I expected to see it. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-the-aurora-borealis/165698/33 "2003-04-02T00:33:57Z")
It happens enough around here to be annoying when you’re trying to look at some stars. I like it when there are some low cumulus clouds close on the horizon, because they make a black, fractal-looking cutout in front of the shimmering colours. Looks neat. My all-time favourite event was a few years ago, when there was this… vortex, seemingly right above. Imagine some B-movie makers spending all their money on some swirly worm-hole effect. I had to phone everybody when that happened. 🙂 I think a lot of people miss a lot of stuff simply because they aren’t looking. It wasn’t until I was interested in astronomy that I started to see it so often. ---
**Author:** ![Alias](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@Alias](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alias)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-the-aurora-borealis/165698/34 "2003-04-02T01:23:04Z")
I saw it a few years ago in the summertime up here in Northern Michigan (not the UP). I knew it was the AURORA BOREALIS, but it really kind of gave me the creeps even though it was beautiful. It looked like sky was wavering and hazy. It was green and gold. Beautiful, but unnerving. I hope I see it again. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![pilot141](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e0b2c6/32.png) [@pilot141](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pilot141)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-the-aurora-borealis/165698/35 "2003-04-02T06:35:30Z")
I will echo **Gassendi** here and say that I saw the AB while flying. I was flying the C-141 (picture [here](http://www.af.mil/photos/images/transports_c141_0006.jpg) ) and we’d left McGuire AFB in NJ on our way to RAF Mildenhall in the UK. After a couple of hours it was just myself and the engineer awake and the night had enveloped the entire sky. As we passed over Newfoundland the Northern Lights caught my eye out the left window…what did I just see? I called the engineer over and we both peered to the north…the sky was brightening. Words fail to describe how magical that moment was. A visual feast of colors, getting stronger and more vibrant by the minute. Waves of color encased in sheets of movement, and on a scale grander than I have ever experienced. As our mechanical ship plied the cold, dark skies at 33,000 feet we stared wonderingly at the warmth and comfort that beckoned us but was beyond our reach. To this day I consider those quiet moments some of my best time ever spent aloft. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-the-aurora-borealis/165698/36 "2003-04-02T06:44:16Z")
On a night flight to Europe in 2001 I kept noticing these foggy white apparitions on the northern horizon. Although I knew we were passing over Greenland at the time, I also was sure there wasn’t any sort of glaciated mountain that could _possibly_ consume so many arc seconds of sky above the horizon. I requested one of the stewards to ask the pilot if it was indeed the Aurora Borealis. Sure enough, I was proven right. What a joy it was to finally see the Northern Lights. I dearly want to go to Canada or Alaska and photograph them. ---
**Author:** ![sezyou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@sezyou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sezyou)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-the-aurora-borealis/165698/37 "2003-04-02T07:00:27Z")
Back in the early 80’s I was deployed with our squadron aboard the USS America (CV-66). We crossed the Arctic Circle. I was privy to the most wild light show imaginable. It bordered on frightening, but majestic. I’ll never forget it. ---
**Author:** ![elfbabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b782af/32.png) [@elfbabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfbabe)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-the-aurora-borealis/165698/38 "2003-04-02T08:10:50Z")
I saw the Aurora a year-ish ago, I believe, while at home in our nice Rural Area. “You can see the Aurora!” my friend said while I was talking to him on AIM. I went outside and watched - at that point it was whitish-silver, on a perfectly clear night. “Look, Dad! It’s the Aurora!” I said. “No it isn’t,” said Qadgop. “It’s just clouds.” “Really! You can see them this far south tonight!” I told him. “I don’t think so,” he said. “Those are definitely clouds.” “They don’t LOOK like clouds,” I said. Then they turned red and I made fun of him. ---
**Author:** ![TelcontarStorm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3ab097/32.png) [@TelcontarStorm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TelcontarStorm)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-the-aurora-borealis/165698/39 "2003-04-02T14:40:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by photopat \* > \*\*Once in Iowa in…1987, I think. It was kind of faint but clear and really exciting. \*\* I believe this is the one I’m thinking of. IIRC it was in early December. At the time I was out walking the streets with some friends, we debated wether it really was the AB. After reading the colourfull descriptions, I’m convinced it was. Ours was orengy-red and very spiky. As you can see, my location is in the southern Great Lakes area. ---
**Author:** ![Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myron_Van_Horowitzski)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-the-aurora-borealis/165698/40 "2003-04-02T14:55:40Z")
I saw–and if it wasn’t only my imagination–_heard_ one in Northern Wisconsin. It was making crackling sounds as it undulated. This was, IIRC, summer of 1988. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-the-aurora-borealis/165698.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-the-aurora-borealis/165698.md?page=3)