Watching the northern lights or .aurora borealis" dancing overhead on a clear winter night is one of the most spectacular and awe-inspiring sights that the natural world can offer. They differ from all other light phenomena by exhibiting an amazing variety of colours, structures, and movements. For people who have caught a glimpse of the northern lights, the sight will often leave memories for a lifetime. There have been hundreds of stories and theories to explain these celestial lights, which we now know as the northern lights. Today we know that the northern lights are caused by charged particles from the Sun. The book describes this fascinating phenomenon from ancient myths to modern science. It explains the mechanisms behind the northern lights, and how we can predict when and where we can see them. The book is illustrated by a number of captivating high quality images taken by the seasami photographer Ørjan Marakatt Bertelsen. Dr. Pål Brekke is an international recognized solar researcher and aurora expert. He has extensive work experience from ESA and NASA and is now working at the Norwegian Space Centre. He is author of several international popular science books and awrd-winning documentaries translated into eight different languages. He is a member of the prestigious Explorers Club in New York.
