What is an Aurora?!

An aurora, scientifically known as an aurora polaris, is a natural light display predominantly seen in polar regions. It occurs when charged particles from the sun collide with atoms in the Earth’s atmosphere. These collisions release energy in the form of light, creating colorful displays in the sky. We can see the aurora in Lake Tekapo from time to time.

Auroras typically appear as curtains, arcs, or bands of light that can be green, red, yellow, blue, or purple in color. The colors depend on the type of gas particles involved in the collisions: oxygen atoms produce green and red colors, while nitrogen atoms produce purple colors.The rarest color being blue due to the collisions between electrons and nitrogen molecules at low altitudes. 

Auroras occur in an oval-shaped region centered over the magnetic poles of the Earth. They are most commonly observed during periods of high solar activity, such as during solar flares or coronal mass ejections, which send increased amounts of charged particles towards Earth.

The Difference Between Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis

There are two main types of auroras:

1. **Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights)**: Seen in the northern hemisphere (North Magnetic Pole) , especially in regions like Scandinavia, Canada, Alaska, and northern Russia.

2. **Aurora Australis (Southern Lights)**: Seen in the southern hemisphere (South Magnetic Pole) , particularly in places like Antarctica, New Zealand, Southern Australia, and South America.

How Can I Know If There Is Aurora In The Sky Tonight?!

There are some great free apps you can download on your phone or electronic devices that will show you if the Southern Lights are active. We recommend: Aurora Forecast, Aurora Forecast and Alerts.

You can also follow Aurora alerts on some website, such as Aurora page of University of Otago, or Space Weather Live.

How to Use Those Apps?

Solar Storms are classified at certain levels on the KP index based on their intensity. 

The KP index, often referred to simply as KP, is a numerical scale used to quantify geomagnetic activity caused by solar storms and other solar events. It measures the disturbance level of Earth’s magnetic field caused by solar wind interacting with Earth’s magnetosphere.

Where Can I Go To See the Southern Lights in Lake Tekapo?

Anywhere by the Lake, Cowans Hill, Lake Alexandrina etc.

How Often Can We See the Southern Lights in Lake Tekapo?

The frequency of witnessing the Southern Lights varies with the years, seasons, and moon phases. On average, we can observe the Southern Lights 2 to 3 times per month.

When Is The Best Season To See the Southern Lights in Lake Tekapo?

It can occur in any season and at any time of day, but we don’t see it during the daytime. The nights are longer in winter, so winter provides more chances to see it .

Overall, auroras are a captivating natural phenomenon that have fascinated people for centuries and continue to be a subject of scientific study to understand their intricacies and variability. Hope you will be lucky to see them in Lake Tekapo!

If you want to join a stargazing tour with Chameleon Stargazing, please make a booking by clicking this link.