It’s time to chase Aurora Borealis , the most amazing happening on earth , that could be a chasing for lifetime. Apart from the dream if anything else remains on the earth for chasing is nothing but Auroras whether one may called it by saying northern or southern lights.
An aurora also commonly known as the polar lights , is a natural light display in Earth’s sky , predominantly seen in high altitude regions( around the Arctic and Antarctic ). Auroras display dynamic patterns of brilliant lights that appear as curtains, rays , spirals, or dynamic flickers covering the entire sky.
Why aurora occurs ? Auroras are the result of disturbances in the magnetosphere caused by the solar wind. Major disturbances result from enhancements in the speed of the solar wind from coronal holes and coronal mass ejections.These disturbances alter the trajectories of charged particles in the magnetospheric plasma. These particles , mainly electrons and protons , precipitate into upper atmosphere. The resulting ionisation and excitation of atmospheric constituents emit light of varying colour and complexity.
Most of the planets in the Solar System, some natural satellites, brown dwarfs , and even comets also host auroras.
From where the name aurora came from ? The word “Aurora” is derived from the name of the Roman goddess of the dawn, Aurora, who travelled from east to west announcing the coming of sun.The words “Borealis ” and “ Australis ” are derived from the names of the ancient gods of the north wind ( Boreas) and the south wind ( Auster ).
What may be the colours and wavelengths of auroral lights :
- Red – This colour at its highest altitudes, excited atomic oxygen emits at 630 nm (red) ; could only be visible under more intense solar activity.Scarlet , crimson, and carmine are the most often seen hues of red for the auroras .
- Green- A fairly high concentration of atomic oxygen and higher eye sensitivity in green at lower altitudes make green Auroras the most common.
- Blue – Blue and purple emissions , typically, typically at the lower edges of the “ curtains ” , show up at the highest levels of solar activity.
- Ultraviolet- Ultraviolet radiation from auroras has been observed with the requisite equipment. Ultraviolet auroras have also been seen on Mars , Jupiter and Saturn .
- Infrared – Infrared radiation, in wavelengths that are within the optical window, is also part of many auroras.
- Yellow and pink are a mix of red and green or blue. Other shades of red , as well as orange , may be seen on rare occasions.
Much physics are over , now it’s practically roam around and about the land of magical lights over the night sky .
This time we had started our trip from Tromsø . Just when entered in the town and outside at the airport, there were powdered drops of ice falling from the sky and a minus temperature of two or three degrees welcomed us then only we understood that our chasing for auroras started from here right now .
A bus was waiting just outside the airport territory and I remembered that place very well when we came here five years before to observe the never ending days and a beautiful midnight sunrise! These reminiscing gave me goosebumps.
Then after a short road trip and roads are snowy yet looking soo beautiful with the Christmas arrangements. It seemed to walk in winter wonderland! After that bus trip a small walking on these ice cream roads and entering into our destination hotel ! After a long journey it was a warm welcome there , followed by a very healthy and tasty dinner.
The next day morning, although sun was not rising as usual but a ray of sunlight for one or two hours were visible. And we were lucky enough to have a fair weather there .
You may know these lines “ Water water everywhere, And all the boards did shrink ; Water water everywhere not any drop to drink.”But when you step outside from the hotel and leave your feet on the ice pavements it felt like just to have the icing on the cakes , soo soft and fragile yet beautiful.So , next day morning we are walking along these beautiful yet very cold winter wonderland, posing for the camera for several times , savouring with some hot chicken nuggets and french fries and then returning to our nest for the most awaiting adventure at nighttime big bus aurora chasing with the chasing lights organisation .
So, our journey started at night at about 7pm. The bus taking its gear high and run through the ice paved roads leaving behind the cityscapes , passing the river and all . Almost after two hours we reached our desired destination which was situated somewhere between Norway and Finland Border.The roads are completely covered with ice , the leaves of the trees are composed and condensed with the ice looking like the white Christmas tree . Then when the headlights of the bus been switched off , we were only having the big sky over the head.There are several activities like camp firing , having our hot chocolates to drink but the most important of these activities was to watch the sky for observing that magical activities of certain particles.
And then that golden hour was coming when the sky was looking like a magical mirror, the Auroras are flaring and dancing all over the skies like the sky is a big revolving stage . It was soo amazing and astonishing that no words could ever be enough to describe that activity. On that very moment it seemed like standing at the other part of the world where only magic remained and everything was fascinating.What else might be the best gift for the Christmas eve?
Now, it’s time for returning to the hotel, and after a two hours journey when we were reaching there , it was four past already . But what remained in our consciousness that we were at the magical land and having these things in the mind we just went to the bed and having some amount of sleeps.
Next day morning or the same day just relaxing and reading some books , I was writing my experience in a form of poetry as because that amazements still knocking my consciousness and telling that what might I was experiencing!
Next evening again we had a small yet cozy bus journey for another magical experience with the same organisation.This time we were camping in front of a small river and enjoying the other things like sipping the hot chocolates , having winter suits to protect from the scorching waves of colder winter, relished some chocolate cookies , having our hot meals which were provided by certain voluntary organisations who were working on the protection of the Arctic environment. All these are really the greatest experience ever.
Then that magical lights again rushing over our head and it was really magical to be with that amazing phenomenon.And this time we experienced the lights through the entire sky . The greens and pinks were beautifully dancing throughout. It was spectacular indeed .
After spending such beautiful times by the side of that lake , again returning to the nest with such an amazing experience in our conscious mind.
Next day morning, with certain tinge of sun-rays we had a beautiful arctic fjord trip with the chasing lights organisation . We had seen so many beautiful places which includes snow caped mountains, the lakes which are throughly covered by the ice,it seemed like the ice ground , and then come to that unique place again by the side of the Nordic sea.
The most beautiful thing which caught my eyes there was a colourful kindergarten. It seemed like a garden with the soo many colours on that white snows . It was well organised and eye catching too.
Again we had those beautiful activities, camp firing , savouring warm foods like pork and rice , having a really nice time with the entire team.
Again the surprises was waiting for us when we suddenly observed dancing auroras from the windows of our hotel . Its was truly the most beautiful moments at that time which remained in our heart for ever and ever. And later on what I thought that it was indeed a gift from the aurora to us . Nature is always full of surprises, we just have to find those things around us .This was the best learning experience ever.
What else to be written ! Just pack your winter garments and be ready for chasing the most amazing things on the earth.
