密歇根州hg6668皇冠登录的北极光

Is seeing the 北极光 on your bucket list? We can’t promise you’ll catch the colorful light curtains during your stay, but we can provide useful tips to help plan your visit. Whether you check it off or not, either way, we hope you’ll enjoy the chase!

什么是北极光? 

The 北极光 or 北极光 occur with a strong solar event sending an elevated solar wind of charged particles (electrons) towards Earth. These electrons strike Earth's magnetosphere and travel along magnetic field lines towards the north and south poles where they collide with oxygen and nitrogen atoms in Earth's upper atmosphere. 原子激发, 然后放松并释放一个光子, which is light—this is what we see as the 北极光.

What causes the different colors of the 北极光? 

The Earth’s atmosphere is mostly composed of Oxygen and Nitrogen, 当加热或兴奋时, 气体会改变颜色. Oxygen turns green, and Nitrogen emits hints of purple, blue, and pink. The red coloring that is sometimes seen is caused by Oxygen at high altitudes that interacts with solar particles. This red color is a sign of very intense solar activity. Hydrogen and Helium are lighter gasses present high up in the ionosphere that create colors of blue and purple. Some of the colors, other than green, are difficult to see with the naked eye.

Trying to catch the 北极光 can be tricky, so here are some helpful tips to see the 北极光 light show in the sky. 

追踪北极光

The best time of year to see the Aurora is September and March as it's more active around the fall and spring equinoxes, but it's also possible to catch a chance show during October through February.

Scientists use the 计划etary K-index to track the magnitude of geomagnetic storms, 也被称为KP指数. The KP Index tracks the disturbances to the Earth’s magnetic field and allows the Space Weather Prediction Center to issue alerts to those who may be affected by the disturbances. Geomagnetic storms can affect the electrical power grid, 航天器操作, and radio signals that operate in the ionosphere.

The best way to know if there will be some action in the sky is to check the KP Index. The higher the KP number, the more likely people will be able to see the 北极光 show. KP指数取值范围为0 ~ 9. To see the Aurora in hg6668皇冠登录, a KP Index of at least 4+ is needed. 为了获得北极光的最佳视角, the viewing location must be free of light pollution and clouds.

A great website for the Aurora Forecasts is the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center:  

http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/communities/aurora-dashboard-experimental

Can You Still See the 北极光 During a Full Moon?

确保没有满月. The full moon will be so bright that the 北极光 will be very dim or not visible at all. However, “In the winter the moon actually rises in the NE and sets in the NW. 在非常活跃的极光显示期间, if the moon is behind you (when it is highest in the sky) as you look north to view the Aurora, the moon acts like a light that illuminates the foreground very nicely in your aurora photos ” says Shawn Malone of 苏必利尔湖 Photography in 我们的极光Q&一个皇冠苹果版app下载.

看北极光该怎么穿 

提前计划好适合这个场合的着装, 穿暖和的衣服, 一个照明灯, 知道你可以去哪里生火, and see the Aurora during the cold fall and winter months. hg6668皇冠登录 can have snowfall as early as the first weeks of October, so always check conditions ahead of time and dress accordingly. 

哪里可以看到北极光

在任何地方 苏必利尔湖 where one can look towards the north can be optimal for viewing due to the lake's wide open spaces. The M-28 Waysides in Chocolay 城镇hip are easy access points in the dark. 想要更皇冠苹果版app下载的观看方式， 面包山，和 小普莱斯克岛 area are excellent viewing locations for the 北极光.  

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