Mar 3, 2011 08:43 GMT  ·  By
This image of the northern lights was taken from Poker Flat, Alaska, on March 1
   This image of the northern lights was taken from Poker Flat, Alaska, on March 1

The high level of activity on the Sun is causing an increase in the brightness and frequency of polar lights, as viewed from the Northern Hemisphere. The phenomenon is caused by solar winds slamming into our planet's atmosphere.

Auroras are light shows of sorts that can be seen close to both poles. They are produced when super-charged particles emanating from the Sun as solar winds slam into the magnetosphere, a protective layer in our atmosphere.

As this happens, the incoming particles are being channeled along magnetic field lines, causing a light show that can be observed in great detail by amateur photographers and scientists alike.

These auroras can be observed best at high latitudes, closer to the poles. Though they can occur at any time, experts have determined that the events are brightest and most complex when large solar flares develop on the Sun.

When this happens, astronomers can warn those interested in noticing the auroras several days in advance, due to the fact that the star is under constant surveillance by at least three spacecraft.

According to planetary scientists, auroras are caused by geomagnetic storms, which take place when material propelled by the solar flare slams in the Earth's magnetosphere. An event such as this one took place on Tuesday, March 1.

Those who got the chance to survey the sky Tuesday and Wednesday night were able to witness beautiful auroras forming at high altitudes, as the magnetosphere defended our planet against these harmful solar radiations.

“Spotters are now reporting auroras over Northern Ireland, Latvia, Norway, and Sweden. If the trend continues, high-latitude sky watchers will likely witness bright auroras after nightfall on March 1-2,” said Tony Phillips, quoted by Space.

“Northern-tier US states such as Maine, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Washington could be favored with photographic and/or visual displays,” added the expert in a statement. Phillips is based at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), in Greenbelt, Maryland.

Over the past few years, few aurora displays took place around the world, as the Sun was in a deep solar minimum. But, starting in 2009, the star got more active, and started producing more flares.

As a result, those interested in observing the light displays were able to do so increasingly often. The Sun will reach its top activity level of the current cycle in 2012 or 2013, experts estimate.