A magical light display is made in the sky by nature and is referred to as the northern lights and southern lights. The lights observed in the north are referred to as the Northern Lights, while the ones observed in the south are referred to as the Southern Lights. Vibrant colours such as green, purple, and pink are commonly observed when these glowing skies are established. Even though they appear in different parts of the world, they are caused by the same process, as explained in the science behind aurora borealis. Northern lights vs southern lights is a phenomena that everyone must know!
These natural lights are usually part of vacation packages for northern lights and aurora borealis packages, where tours are set up for travelers to appreciate the sights and learn about them. In this piece, both northern lights and southern lights will be explored more closely so that one may comprehend how they occur, where they are visible, and why people everywhere love them.
How the Northern Lights Are Formed
The northern lights and southern lights are formed when tiny charged particles are sent from the sun and pulled toward Earth by its magnetic field. These particles are directed towards the North and South Poles, where they are intercepted by gases in the higher portion of the sky. When such interception occurs, beautiful colors such as green, pink, and purple are produced.
This process is the same for both northern lights (another name for aurora borealis) and southern lights (also referred to as aurora australis). The point of difference is place. The science behind northern lights and southern lights explains that they are caused by the same solar activity.
This is why in many aurora borealis travel packages, the science is explained by guides as the lights are watched in the sky. Although the northern lights holiday packages are more usual, the southern lights have the same beauty in the southern part of the world.
Where Can the Northern Lights and Southern Lights Be Seen?
The northern lights and southern lights can be seen in places near the Earth’s magnetic poles. The northern lights are usually seen in the Arctic region. Rovaniemi in Finland, Tromsø in Norway, Reykjavík in Iceland, Sweden, Alaska, and Canada are commonly featured in northern lights package breaks due to the fact that intense auroras tend to be observed in these areas.
The southern lights are observed in the Southern Hemisphere and they are mostly spotted from Tasmania, New Zealand’s South Island and sometimes from Antarctica and these areas are much harder to reach, so fewer people visit. Still, in some seasons, southern lights tours are arranged and beautiful views are enjoyed.
In most aurora borealis vacations and northern lights travel packages, special locations with dark skies and little pollution are chosen so that the lights can be seen more clearly.
Best Time to View Southern Lights
The northern lights and southern lights look the best when the sky is dark and clear. The northern lights are mostly observed from October to March, during which there are long winter nights in destinations such as Norway, Finland and Iceland. This is the reason most northern lights holiday packages are scheduled during this time.
The southern lights are usually observed from March to September, particularly in the winter months of the Southern Hemisphere. Darker skies and improved chances of auroras are provided by locations such as Tasmania and New Zealand during this period.
For both southern lights and northern lights, the best observation is observed on nights when the moon is not full and the skies are clear. That’s why in most aurora borealis tours, there is more than one night so chances of seeing the lights properly are increased.
Colors of the Northern and Southern Lights Explained
The glowing colors seen in the northern lights and southern lights are created when solar particles are pulled toward Earth and are met by gases in the sky. Different colors are formed depending on which gas is touched and how high in the sky the reaction takes place.
The color green is most often seen and is caused when oxygen is met at lower heights. When oxygen is touched higher in the sky, a red color is produced. Blue and purple lights are made when nitrogen is involved in the reaction.
These colors are shared by both the northern lights and southern lights, as the same natural process is followed. During many aurora borealis travel packages, these color changes are explained by guides while the lights are watched in the sky. No matter the color, both types of lights are remembered for their beauty and peaceful glow.
Do the Northern Lights and Southern Lights Look the Same?
Northern lights vs southern lights are due to the same natural phenomenon, and therefore their appearance is mostly the same. With both, waves of green, pink, red, and purple are commonly observed in the sky at night. The lights are produced when solar particles are attracted towards Earth and encounter gases within the upper atmosphere.
Although the patterns and hues are alike, slight differences can occasionally be observed. These are typically brought about by the place, climate, and the intensity of the solar activity during the time. But generally speaking, both the northern lights and southern lights are appreciated for their dancing forms and vibrant colors.
In the majority of northern lights package holidays and aurora borealis breaks, the lights are portrayed as peaceful and enchanting and the same adjectives are frequently used by those who happen to witness the southern lights as well.
Northern Lights vs Southern Aurora Tours
The northern lights and southern lights can be both viewed through special travel experiences but more vacation options are usually offered for the north as Northern lights vacation packages are often planned in places like Finland, Norway, Iceland, Sweden, Canada and Alaska, where the auroras are seen more often and where travel is easier and more popular. In these tours, guided trips, glass igloos, snow safaris and cozy cabins are often included.
On the other hand, southern aurora tours are not as common. The southern lights are usually seen in Tasmania, New Zealand, or near Antarctica, where fewer tour options are provided and weather conditions are harder to predict. Still in some regions small guided tours are sometimes arranged to view the southern lights.
Due to these factors, northern lights are featured more frequently in aurora borealis tours and holidays and southern lights tours are selected by fewer visitors seeking unusual vacations.
Why Northern Lights Appear More Often in Travel Packages
The Northern lights vs southern lights are both loved by travelers but the northern lights are more often included in travel packages because northern countries like Norway, Finland, Iceland and Canada are easier to reach and are well known for tourism.Roads, hotels, and guided tours are already well developed, so packages can be easily offered.
These are locations where northern lights may be witnessed frequently during winter and the atmosphere of the sky is generally dark and clear. Due to this reason, northern lights holiday packages, aurora borealis tours, and group tours of northern lights are often reserved by individuals from everywhere in the globe.
Conversely, the southern lights are only found in lesser locations such as Tasmania, New Zealand, and Antarctica, where fewer tours are conducted and traveling is more challenging. That is why the northern lights tour packages are featured more frequently in travel blogs and Internet.
Northern Lights and Southern Lights: Common Questions Answered
1. Can both the northern lights and southern lights be seen from Earth?
Yes, as the northern lights can be seen from arctic region and the southern lights can be seen from the southern hemisphere.
2. Are the northern lights and southern lights caused by the same thing?
Yes, Both are created when solar particles are pushed toward Earth and are met by gases in the upper atmosphere.
3. Why are northern lights more often included in travel packages?
Places with Northern lights like Finland, Norway and Iceland are easier to reach and better prepared for tourism, so more northern lights vacation packages are offered.
4. Can the colors of the northern and southern lights change?
Yes, they can. Different colors are formed depending on which gases are touched by the solar particles. Green, pink, and red are often seen.
5. Are southern lights tours also available?
Yes, but fewer options are provided. Some tours are arranged in places like New Zealand and Tasmania, but they are not as common as northern lights group tours.
Final Thoughts on the Aurora Borealis
The northern lights and southern lights have been enjoyed by people for centuries for their visual beauty. Even though they occur in other regions of the globe, both of them share the same awe. Softly colored green, pink, and purple hues are painted across the skies, and serene memories are usually formed by those who get to experience them.
In most of the world, there are now special arrangements for trips to experience these lights. Through northern lights tour packages and escorted aurora borealis holidays, opportunities to see the lights are generally improved. Although southern auroratours are not as frequent, the pleasure they provide is no less unique.
No matter if the lights are observed from the snowy plains of Finland or the southern horizon of Tasmania, something remains constant, that is the sense of wonder that one always experiences when the northern lights and southern lights display themselves in the skies above.
