Northern lights are a spectacular, natural, colorful light display in the sky.  In northern latitudes, the effect is known as aurora borealis.  They are named after the Roman goddess of dawn, Aurora, and the Greek name for the north wind, Boreas.  The lights are caused by charged particles carried from the sun by the solar wind.  As they enter the Earth's atmosphere, they create an incandescent light display.

Northern lights can be displayed as fluorescent green, a greenish glow,or sometimes as a faint red.  They can change within seconds or glow unchanging for hours.

Although they occur in all months, northern lights are most frequent seen in late autumn and winter. At Duck Bay guests have reported seeing them in July, but they are most commonly seen from mid-August and on into the fall.  The best chance to see them is on cool clear nights with little moonlight. 

 

Each appearance of the northern lights is unique.  They can be seen in the form of luminous bands or streamers, distinct bands across the night sky or as flickering curtains or rolling smoke. The most common way that we see them at Duck Bay is as a greenish glow that takes the shape of a long, arcing ribbon of light.  Vertical rays flicker along the ribbon.  As they grow, the ribbon starts to move and fold as if it's blowing in a breeze.