Northern Lights
Wake Up Call
You don't want to miss the Northern Lights?
We are here to alert you to any activity we may detect!
Let us know in advance that you would like the Wake Up Call and you won't miss them!
Why this period?
In the James Bay region, the Northern Lights are easily visible from September to March. September is the best time to see them, as the weather is generally clear for observing this natural spectacle.
Credit: C. Waythomas
How can this phenomenon be explained?
An aurora borealis is a physical phenomenon that can be explained by two major factors:
Charged cosmic particles (protons, electrons, etc.) originating from the sun
the Earth's magnetic field
During a solar flare, many particles are propelled at very high speeds and travel through space to reach Earth in 2 to 4 days.
Their journey ends when they become trapped in the Earth's magnetic field.
Collision with Earth
In our upper atmosphere, gases are made up of atoms and molecules.
When charged solar particles come into contact with terrestrial molecules and atoms, light particles are created: photons.
The color of this light reaction will depend on the nature of the different atoms.
Why at the poles?
The Earth is protected from solar winds by its magnetic field: the magnetosphere.
However, some solar particles are captured by the magnetic field and head towards the poles where the magnetic field is weakest.
