<p>"Northern lights", also called the aurora borealis, is one of the most stunning and mysterious displays of lights which is seen in the night sky.</p>

<p>Many people have to wait for years or a lifetime to see the magical northern lights, which becomes an unforgettable experience for them. This is the reason why people are often amazed by the pictures and videos of the northern lights which are captured.</p>

<p>Recently, a video was shared by the American space agency NASA of the northern lights captured from the International Space Station (ISS).</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-northern-lights-wonder-dazzles-north-america-amid-severe-geomagnetic-storm-575789">In Pics | Northern Lights dazzle North America amid 'severe' geomagnetic storm</a></p>

<p>The video was shared by the space agency on Instagram to the northern lights' green hues dancing across North America's skies.</p>

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<p>Furthermore, the curvature of Earth can be seen where the auroras meet the darkness of space in the atmosphere. The bright lights of midwest American cities' can be seen as the video moves southeast across North America.</p>

<p>The post was captioned by NASA with the lyrics of British rock band Coldplay's song "Yellow", which read, "Look how they shine for you”.</p>

<p>The space agency further explained what causes the beautiful phenomenon to occur.</p>

<p>The activity of the sun, like coronal mass ejections (ejected gas bubbles) and explosive flares, leads to magnetic disturbances that result in the display of natural light known as auroras.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | Spectacular display of northern lights at the Arctic</strong></p>

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<p>The energetically charged electrons which are produced from these occurrences travel to the atmosphere of Earth via solar winds.</p>

<p>When these electrons enter the magnetosphere, which is a layer of the atmosphere shielding us from cosmic and solar radiation, substorms are produced.</p>

<p>"These fast-moving substorm particles slam into our thin, high atmosphere, colliding with Earth's oxygen and nitrogen particles. As these air particles shed the energy they picked up from the collision, each atom starts to glow in a different colour-causing the brilliant ribbons of light which weave across Earth's northern or southern polar regions," they further said.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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"Northern lights", also called the aurora borealis, is one of the most stunning and mysterious displays of lights which is seen in the night sky. Many people have to wait for years or a lifetime to see the magical northern lights, which becomes an unforgettable experience for them.

"Northern lights", also called the aurora borealis, is one of the most stunning and mysterious displays of lights which is seen in the night sky. Many people have to wait for years or a lifetime to see the magical northern lights, which becomes an unforgettable experience for them. This is the reason why people are often amazed by the pictures and videos of the northern lights which are captured. Recently, a video was shared by the American space agency NASA of the northern lights captured from the International Space Station (ISS). ALSO READ | In Pics | Northern Lights dazzle North America amid 'severe' geomagnetic storm The video was shared by the space agency on Instagram to the northern lights' green hues dancing across North America's skies. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NASA (@nasa) × Furthermore, the curvature of Earth can be seen where the auroras meet the darkness of space in the atmosphere. The bright lights of midwest American cities' can be seen as the video moves southeast across North America. The post was captioned by NASA with the lyrics of British rock band Coldplay's song "Yellow", which read, "Look how they shine for you”. The space agency further explained what causes the beautiful phenomenon to occur. The activity of the sun, like coronal mass ejections (ejected gas bubbles) and explosive flares, leads to magnetic disturbances that result in the display of natural light known as auroras. WATCH | Spectacular display of northern lights at the Arctic The energetically charged electrons which are produced from these occurrences travel to the atmosphere of Earth via solar winds. When these electrons enter the magnetosphere, which is a layer of the atmosphere shielding us from cosmic and solar radiation, substorms are produced. "These fast-moving substorm particles slam into our thin, high atmosphere, colliding with Earth's oxygen and nitrogen particles. As these air particles shed the energy they picked up from the collision, each atom starts to glow in a different colour-causing the brilliant ribbons of light which weave across Earth's northern or southern polar regions," they further said. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Watch | International Space Station captures stunning view of northern lights

In Pics | Northern Lights dazzle North America amid 'severe' geomagnetic storm

Stargazers are left in awe as Northern Lights brighten up skies across England, Ireland and Scotland.

In Pics | Stargazers awestruck as captivating Northern Lights gleam across Scotland, Ireland and England

Skywatchers in Canada and UK witness breathtaking views of Northern Lights - see pics

Longyearbyen is a small coal-mining town on Spitsbergen Island, in Norway's Svalbard archipelago. This Arctic town is known for its views of Northern Lights. But it's also the place where global warming is at its fastest pace.

This arctic community is at the forefront of global warming

The hunt for the Spectacular display of Northern Lights has begun in the Arctic. They are largely witnessed in the winter months.

Spectacular display of northern lights at the Arctic

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{cd7bab5a-0054-4891-b2cb-4cac9a1cc967}{93}" paraid="1875833757" >In what can be called a rare sighting, some parts of northern United States are in for a treat this weekend as solar flare will make the northern lights visible to residents on Saturday night.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{cd7bab5a-0054-4891-b2cb-4cac9a1cc967}{202}" paraid="576261431" >Normally seen in only Alaska, the lights will be visible as far south as Pennsylvania, Iowa&nbsp;and Oregon in the US this time. Scientists also expect the lights to become visible in the New England region, Montana and Washington. These lights could be seen on both Saturday and Sunday.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{cd7bab5a-0054-4891-b2cb-4cac9a1cc967}{230}" paraid="1836863576" ><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/homo-bodoensis-its-official-we-have-a-new-ancestor-425007" hreflang="en">Homo bodoensis: It's official, we have a new ancestor</a></strong></p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{cd7bab5a-0054-4891-b2cb-4cac9a1cc967}{230}" paraid="1836863576" >A solar flare, which erupted on Thursday, is expected to reach the Earth on Saturday. It has caused a large group of solar-charged particles to come towards the Earth, which makes the lights more visible in the US, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{62a8be2d-64d6-427c-b23f-da14659be829}{3}" paraid="1767991478" >For the solar flare, the NOAA has issued a G3 geomagnetic storm watch this weekend.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{62a8be2d-64d6-427c-b23f-da14659be829}{31}" paraid="2079786273" ><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/why-is-mysterious-dark-energy-leading-to-expansion-of-the-universe-425187" hreflang="en">Why is mysterious dark energy leading to expansion of the universe?</a></strong></p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{62a8be2d-64d6-427c-b23f-da14659be829}{31}" paraid="2079786273" >The storm doesn’t seem to be harmful to&nbsp;humans, but the NOAA has listed possible interference with electronics, such as false alarms on protection devices,&nbsp;voltage irregularities&nbsp;and interruptions to navigation and radio signals as possible side-effects.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{62a8be2d-64d6-427c-b23f-da14659be829}{59}" paraid="1525054630" >However, the NOAA said in its storm watch that "impacts to our technology from G3 storms are usually nominal."&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{62a8be2d-64d6-427c-b23f-da14659be829}{87}" paraid="552525350" ><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


In what can be called a rare sighting, some parts of northern United States are in for a treat this weekend as solar flare will make the northern lights visible to residents on Saturday night.

In what can be called a rare sighting, some parts of northern United States are in for a treat this weekend as solar flare will make the northern lights visible to residents on Saturday night. Normally seen in only Alaska, the lights will be visible as far south as Pennsylvania, Iowa and Oregon in the US this time. Scientists also expect the lights to become visible in the New England region, Montana and Washington. These lights could be seen on both Saturday and Sunday. Also Read | Homo bodoensis: It's official, we have a new ancestor A solar flare, which erupted on Thursday, is expected to reach the Earth on Saturday. It has caused a large group of solar-charged particles to come towards the Earth, which makes the lights more visible in the US, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said. For the solar flare, the NOAA has issued a G3 geomagnetic storm watch this weekend. Also Read | Why is mysterious dark energy leading to expansion of the universe? The storm doesn’t seem to be harmful to humans, but the NOAA has listed possible interference with electronics, such as false alarms on protection devices, voltage irregularities and interruptions to navigation and radio signals as possible side-effects. However, the NOAA said in its storm watch that "impacts to our technology from G3 storms are usually nominal." (With inputs from agencies)

During Halloween weekend, solar flare helps northern lights become visible to US

<p>NASA researchers have revealed a nearby star which closely resembles the young <strong>Sun</strong>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The new study aims to find out the details about the Sun and about the development of life on <strong>Earth</strong>.</p>

<p>"At 4.65 billion years old, our Sun is a middle-aged star,"<strong> NASA</strong> said as curious scientists seek to find out how the Sun in its younger days supported life on Earth.</p>

<p>The author of the study, Vladimir Airapetian, senior astrophysicist in the Heliophysics Division at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland said he was trying to "reconstruct <strong>baby photos</strong>" of the Sun with the new star which has similar characteristics to the Sun.</p>

<p>NASA said the new stars emit<strong>&nbsp;stellar winds</strong> made of superhot gas known as plasma. The US space agency said the most energetic plasma can shoot off away from the outermost and hottest part of a star’s atmosphere in an eruption with steam rising towards nearby planets as stellar wind.</p>

<p>The space agency said younger <strong>stars</strong> generate hotter stellar winds leading to more "powerful plasma eruptions" than older stars which can affect the atmosphere of nearby planets impacting it&nbsp;at any stage.</p>

<p>NASA scientists said that the Sun in its youth rotated three times faster and had a stronger <strong>magnetic field</strong>&nbsp;also released more energy including radiation and particles. The particles are now sometimes visible near the planet’s poles as aurora, or the Northern and <strong>Southern Lights</strong>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The scientists are seeking to uncover the mystery behind the <strong>Sun's youth</strong> although they agree it is a complicated process which will involve several years as new tools and ways of thinking need&nbsp;to be put in place to seek answers.</p>

<p>Scientists say the complicating factors in the study of the young Sun includes distance since it is still&nbsp;not possible to directly observe the stellar wind of other stars in the <strong>galaxy</strong> since it is too far away.</p>

<p>The study, therefore, relies on <strong>"scientific modelling"</strong> based on predictions on existing scientific data.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Previous studies have drawn on data gathered by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and <strong>Hubble Space Telescope</strong> (HST) to identify Kappa 1 Ceti as a young solar proxy, it said.</p>

<p>(With inputs from Agencies)</p>


NASA researchers have revealed a nearby star which closely resembles the young Sun. The new study aims to find out the details about the Sun and about the development of life on Earth.

NASA researchers have revealed a nearby star which closely resembles the young Sun. The new study aims to find out the details about the Sun and about the development of life on Earth. "At 4.65 billion years old, our Sun is a middle-aged star," NASA said as curious scientists seek to find out how the Sun in its younger days supported life on Earth. The author of the study, Vladimir Airapetian, senior astrophysicist in the Heliophysics Division at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland said he was trying to "reconstruct baby photos" of the Sun with the new star which has similar characteristics to the Sun. NASA said the new stars emit stellar winds made of superhot gas known as plasma. The US space agency said the most energetic plasma can shoot off away from the outermost and hottest part of a star’s atmosphere in an eruption with steam rising towards nearby planets as stellar wind. The space agency said younger stars generate hotter stellar winds leading to more "powerful plasma eruptions" than older stars which can affect the atmosphere of nearby planets impacting it at any stage. NASA scientists said that the Sun in its youth rotated three times faster and had a stronger magnetic field also released more energy including radiation and particles. The particles are now sometimes visible near the planet’s poles as aurora, or the Northern and Southern Lights. The scientists are seeking to uncover the mystery behind the Sun's youth although they agree it is a complicated process which will involve several years as new tools and ways of thinking need to be put in place to seek answers. Scientists say the complicating factors in the study of the young Sun includes distance since it is still not possible to directly observe the stellar wind of other stars in the galaxy since it is too far away. The study, therefore, relies on "scientific modelling" based on predictions on existing scientific data. Previous studies have drawn on data gathered by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and Hubble Space Telescope (HST) to identify Kappa 1 Ceti as a young solar proxy, it said. (With inputs from Agencies)

NASA model: This is how the Sun looked like in its youth

<p>Ever wondered what causes nature's light shows commonly known as auroras which illuminate the skies at Earth’s poles? Scientists may have finally found the answer. For long, it was well established that auroras were caused by solar storms but it wasn’t clear what processes led to the event… until now!</p>

<p>Essentially, auroras appear on Earth when bursts of radiation with charged particles from the Sun hit magnetic fields in the atmosphere.</p>

<p>Turns out, the whole process is driven by electrons. In a new research compiled over 20 years and published in Nature, scientists attempt to explain the cause of such solar outbursts.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>What do solar storms do?</strong></p>

<p>In many ways, solar storms bend the magnetic field of our planet. When that happens, the mesmerising auroras emerge. For long, scientists attributed this to Alfvén waves - which refers to what happens to magnetic fields after they’re struck by solar storms, but they were only able to prove it now.&nbsp;When the magnetic field is temporary disrupted, it attempts to go back to its original place, due to which electrons are accelerated in the atmosphere.&nbsp;</p>

<p>These electrons are extremely excited to show off. And when they charge at the oxygen and nitrogen in the Earth’s atmosphere, what we witness is a mesmerising show in the skies called auroras.</p>

<p><img alt="Aurora" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d82c133d-b9f0-4119-adc1-b133bc5e2560" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/oof%20%284%29_1.jpg" /></p>

<p>Essentially, our magnetic field is like a rubber band which releases energy every time it is stretched. And what’s stretching it? Solar storms! And while it snaps back into its original shape, the electron-laden process kicks in, giving us a glimpse into the wonders of the universe.</p>

<p>In the North Pole, it’s called aurora borealis and in the South Pole, the magnificent feast in the sky is referred to as aurora australis.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>What did the scientists do to prove the role played by Alfvén waves?</strong></p>

<p>They simply created their own. According to the paper’s lead author James Schroeder, who is a physicist at the Wheaton College, such waves can be created by producing “disturbances in magnetized plasma”. To achieve this, they turned to the “Large Plasma Device” at the University of California in Los Angeles.</p>

<p>But producing an Alfvén wave isn’t easy and the device hadn’t been ever used for this purpose.&nbsp; But once scientists were able to create the waves, to everybody’s amazement the electrons achieved high energies propelled by the Alfvén waves. Essentially, the scientists found that they were right and auroras could be triggered in polar skies by solar storms coming in contact with the magnetic field with the assistance of Alfvén waves.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/earth-has-a-heartbeat-and-nobody-knows-what-causes-it-392975" hreflang="en">Earth has a 'heartbeat' and nobody knows what causes it</a></p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/indian-scientists-discover-four-near-earth-asteroids-in-nasa-backed-research-programme-393060" hreflang="en">Indian scientists discover four near-Earth asteroids in NASA-backed research programme</a></p>


Ever wondered what causes nature's light shows commonly known as auroras which illuminate the skies at Earth’s poles? Scientists may have finally found the answer.

Ever wondered what causes nature's light shows commonly known as auroras which illuminate the skies at Earth’s poles? Scientists may have finally found the answer. For long, it was well established that auroras were caused by solar storms but it wasn’t clear what processes led to the event… until now! Essentially, auroras appear on Earth when bursts of radiation with charged particles from the Sun hit magnetic fields in the atmosphere. Turns out, the whole process is driven by electrons. In a new research compiled over 20 years and published in Nature, scientists attempt to explain the cause of such solar outbursts. What do solar storms do? In many ways, solar storms bend the magnetic field of our planet. When that happens, the mesmerising auroras emerge. For long, scientists attributed this to Alfvén waves - which refers to what happens to magnetic fields after they’re struck by solar storms, but they were only able to prove it now. When the magnetic field is temporary disrupted, it attempts to go back to its original place, due to which electrons are accelerated in the atmosphere. These electrons are extremely excited to show off. And when they charge at the oxygen and nitrogen in the Earth’s atmosphere, what we witness is a mesmerising show in the skies called auroras. Essentially, our magnetic field is like a rubber band which releases energy every time it is stretched. And what’s stretching it? Solar storms! And while it snaps back into its original shape, the electron-laden process kicks in, giving us a glimpse into the wonders of the universe. In the North Pole, it’s called aurora borealis and in the South Pole, the magnificent feast in the sky is referred to as aurora australis. What did the scientists do to prove the role played by Alfvén waves? They simply created their own. According to the paper’s lead author James Schroeder, who is a physicist at the Wheaton College, such waves can be created by producing “disturbances in magnetized plasma”. To achieve this, they turned to the “Large Plasma Device” at the University of California in Los Angeles. But producing an Alfvén wave isn’t easy and the device hadn’t been ever used for this purpose. But once scientists were able to create the waves, to everybody’s amazement the electrons achieved high energies propelled by the Alfvén waves. Essentially, the scientists found that they were right and auroras could be triggered in polar skies by solar storms coming in contact with the magnetic field with the assistance of Alfvén waves. Also read: Earth has a 'heartbeat' and nobody knows what causes it Also read: Indian scientists discover four near-Earth asteroids in NASA-backed research programme

We finally know what causes mesmerising auroras in polar night skies!

<p>If you wish to see the Northern Lights, but don't want to wait out in the freezing cold, a new hotel in northern Finland could be the one for you.</p>

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<h5>After the wild BBQ, guests will have the camp to themselves to hunt for the Northern Lights and enjoy the peace of the Arctic wilderness, quoted The Daily Star.</h5>
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<p>The fleet of glamping cabins is built on skis so that they can be pulled to remote wilderness locations, where you are more likely to spot the Northern lights.</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BgeN97jBxv0/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">"Explosions in the sky" Photo by: @joonaslinkola | ??? . For more check out his collection! ______________ #beyondthelands_ | #finland Selected by: @simona_br_photography</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/beyondthelands/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Iceland | Beyond The Lands</a> (@beyondthelands) on <time datetime="2018-03-18T17:00:07+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Mar 18, 2018 at 10:00am PDT</time></p>
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<p>The guests can experience the natural show from the comfort of their beds through clear roofs from their cosy wooden cabins. A new Hotel on Skis gives its guests the best chance to witness the Northern Lights.</p>

<p>There are three mobile rooms available, all of which comfortably accommodate two people.</p>

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<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BgeOQi_g3N0/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Tor-Ivar Næss (@torivarnaess)</a> on <time datetime="2018-03-18T17:02:40+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Mar 18, 2018 at 10:02am PDT</time></p>
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<p>The cabins will be set up together to create a Aurora wilderness camp, in the best location for Northern Lights hunting.</p>

<p>The trip starts at 6 pm, with an experienced guide transporting guests by snowmobile to their room for the night, before teaching them how to make a campfire to grill some local sausages.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Mother nature showing off her dance moves! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/northernlights?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#northernlights</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/dawsoncreek?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#dawsoncreek</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bc?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#bc</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canada?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canada</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/auroraborealis?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#auroraborealis</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Nikon?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Nikon</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/astrophotography?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#astrophotography</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cinematography?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cinematography</a> <a href="https://t.co/kCWLau9buw">https://t.co/kCWLau9buw</a> <a href="https://t.co/1S0pflI6lr">pic.twitter.com/1S0pflI6lr</a></p>
— Andy Witteman (@CNLastro) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNLastro/status/975171755416391680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>After the wild BBQ, guests will have the camp to themselves to hunt for the Northern Lights and enjoy the peace of the Arctic wilderness, quoted The Daily Star.</p>

<p>Local snacks and hot drinks are provided, as well as a warming breakfast the following morning. Experts have estimated that if the sky is clear visitors have more than a 70 percent chance of seeing the Northern Lights.</p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>November to March is the best time to visit and you have more of a chance of seeing them if you go at a time of the month when the moon is small.</p>

<p>If seeing the Aurora Borealis is one of your life-long goals, we suggest you pack your woollens and head to this quirky hotel in Finland for your next holiday.</p>


A new Hotel on Skis gives its guests the best chance to witness the Northern Lights.

If you wish to see the Northern Lights, but don't want to wait out in the freezing cold, a new hotel in northern Finland could be the one for you. After the wild BBQ, guests will have the camp to themselves to hunt for the Northern Lights and enjoy the peace of the Arctic wilderness, quoted The Daily Star. × The fleet of glamping cabins is built on skis so that they can be pulled to remote wilderness locations, where you are more likely to spot the Northern lights. "Explosions in the sky" Photo by: @joonaslinkola | ??? . For more check out his collection! ______________ #beyondthelands_ | #finland Selected by: @simona_br_photography A post shared by Iceland | Beyond The Lands (@beyondthelands) on Mar 18, 2018 at 10:00am PDT × The guests can experience the natural show from the comfort of their beds through clear roofs from their cosy wooden cabins. A new Hotel on Skis gives its guests the best chance to witness the Northern Lights. There are three mobile rooms available, all of which comfortably accommodate two people. A post shared by Tor-Ivar Næss (@torivarnaess) on Mar 18, 2018 at 10:02am PDT × The cabins will be set up together to create a Aurora wilderness camp, in the best location for Northern Lights hunting. The trip starts at 6 pm, with an experienced guide transporting guests by snowmobile to their room for the night, before teaching them how to make a campfire to grill some local sausages. Mother nature showing off her dance moves! #northernlights #dawsoncreek #bc #Canada #auroraborealis #Nikon #astrophotography #cinematography https://t.co/kCWLau9buw pic.twitter.com/1S0pflI6lr — Andy Witteman (@CNLastro) March 18, 2018 × After the wild BBQ, guests will have the camp to themselves to hunt for the Northern Lights and enjoy the peace of the Arctic wilderness, quoted The Daily Star. Local snacks and hot drinks are provided, as well as a warming breakfast the following morning. Experts have estimated that if the sky is clear visitors have more than a 70 percent chance of seeing the Northern Lights. × November to March is the best time to visit and you have more of a chance of seeing them if you go at a time of the month when the moon is small. If seeing the Aurora Borealis is one of your life-long goals, we suggest you pack your woollens and head to this quirky hotel in Finland for your next holiday.

Wish to see the Northern Lights? Head to this quirky hotel in Finland

<p>&ldquo;There is a realisation that the views we see from the cockpit with the large, clean windows, are reserved for only a very few people in the world. The happy few who manage to become an airline pilot.&nbsp;If I can share that experience of flying a 747 underneath the Northern Lights or over a moonlit ocean, I have brought that experience of being a pilot a little closer to the rest of the world that will never be able to sit in that seat.&rdquo;</p>

<p>This is how Christiaan van Heijst, a 34-year-old pilot describes his dual passion for flying and photographing the world from a bird&rsquo;s eye view.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With more than 7000 hours in his logbook, he is one of the few who has mastered the art of capturing the world&rsquo;s best wonders, several thousand kilometres above the sea level. In an exclusive conversation with WION, Christiaan opens up about his journey, his unique style of aerial photography as a cargo pilot and all there is to know about being the man with the best window seat.</p>

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<p>&quot;I realise more and more that my images can make people see the beauty in the world and appreciate the little things a bit more&quot; says Christiaan (Source:www.jpcvanheijst.com) (Others)</p>
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<p><strong>Kickstarting an adrenaline rush</strong></p>

<p>Born and raised in The Netherlands, Christiaan was drawn to the sky at an early age.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&ldquo;I started with glider flying at the age of 14 and achieved my PPL (private pilot license) at the age of 18, even before my driver&#39;s license&rdquo;, he says.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Driven with a fondness for the art of flying, he began as an aerobatics pilot and competed with the Dutch National Aerobatics Championship. With first place in the beginners class at the age of 20, he was hired as a First Officer on the Fokker 50 Turboprop. He remembers, &ldquo;I flew it for almost 2.5 years with operations ranging from European contracts to local African airlines and military operations in Afghanistan that have left a deep impression on me.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Breaking away from geographical boundaries and learning everything anew&nbsp;in the sky, his predilection for flying grew stronger. In 2006, he joined Transavia on the Boeing 737. He was then hired on the Boeing 747-400 at the age of 27, becoming one of the youngest pilots to be introduced on the very first 747-8 that entered service that same year.</p>

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<h5>I am privileged to fly for a living and enjoy a life in the sky.</h5>
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<p>Considering himself &ldquo;privileged to fly for a living and to enjoy&nbsp;a life in the sky&rdquo;, Christiaan currently flies as a Senior First Officer on the Boeing 747-8 and -400 Freighter for Cargolux; one of Europe&rsquo;s major all-cargo airline.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But wait,&nbsp;where did the photographer and pilot in you meet?</p>

<p>Christiaan explains how photography was not a new found love interest rather he &ldquo;was always interested in it since around the age of 10 but it became much more of an interest&rdquo; after he got his first job as an airline pilot. He says, &ldquo;I immediately felt and understood that the views and landscapes that unfolded from so high up in the air are unique that I just had to capture them with a camera.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Following his appetite for taking good photos, he became an instant hit on social media when his photos became viral. Those are his &ldquo;most widely known photos of an unexplained group of red lights in the Pacific Ocean, spotted on August 24th, 2014&rdquo;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Christiaan adds, &ldquo;Those photos unexpectedly went viral after I posted them on social media, being picked up by the Dutch blog Geenstijl and consequently generated a lot of attention worldwide.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

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<p>The experience of taking pictures of the starry night is quite different from those taken on land than while airborne (Source: www.jpcvanheijst.com) (Others)</p>
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<p>From thunderstorms to cloud formations, the pilot witnesses a bounty of natural wonder from his cockpit (Source:www.jpcvanheijst.com) (Others)</p>
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<p><strong>The art of clicking airborne</strong></p>

<p>Photographs are one of the best ways to communicate with an audience.</p>

<p>Christiaan explains what he explores within this art form: &ldquo;Photography for me, is more than just capturing some scenes, cockpits or clouds, it&#39;s my way to show the world how incredibly beautiful so many things are if you just take a moment to appreciate it. I&rsquo;m lucky that I&#39;m taking pictures from a unique vantage point so high up in the sky being a pilot, that allows me to see the entire world from a different perspective. The strong urge to capture the delicate plays of light had been present ever since, and I feel that I have to share as many of those views as possible while I&#39;m able to.&rdquo;</p>

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<h5>I&rsquo;m lucky that I&#39;m taking pictures from a unique vantage point so high up in the sky being a pilot, that allows me to see the entire world from a different perspective. I feel I have to share as many of those views as possible while I&#39;m able to.</h5>
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<p>For someone so mesmerised with natural lights and colours, I enquire him about storytelling via pictures. It is commonly learnt that every photograph speaks 1000 words, what story do your photos tell, I ask?</p>

<p>Christiaan simply answers, &ldquo;Actually, I do not try to tell a story with my photos, nor do I connect them with moral statements or messages. Nearly every shot speaks for itself, and as a whole, they convey the pure beauty of the world from above and through my eyes. I prefer the use of natural light in all its forms, and the only story I can actually think of is; just appreciate the world as it is. If I connect them with moral statements about religion or human pollution, they would lose their strength and essence. If my images make people realise or think a bit and see the bigger picture of the world and its beauty, that&#39;s a nice extra.</p>

<p>&ldquo;Every city looks different, but at night it&rsquo;s often a huge cluster of millions of lights that are sometimes chaotic, sometimes drawn in straight lines where the roads are. During daylight, most cities look like a mass of grey spots and lines but are most distinctively different because of the geographical location. For example, some cities are defined by mountains or islands (like Hong Kong) or large rivers that were the main reason for the city to be founded (like Kinshasa or Novosibirsk). Major cities like Hong Kong or New York are also easily visible because of the skyscrapers and the high buildings in comparison with smaller cities that are often much less developed. Every city has its own characteristics and features that are often beautifully visible from above&rdquo;, he adds.&nbsp;</p>

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<h5>I do not try to tell a story with my photos, nor do I connect them with moral statements or messages. Nearly every shot speaks for itself</h5>
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<p>While he is busy capturing the nuances of nature with an upside-down view of the world, a few like Christiaan have given a boost to aviation photography as a lucrative career option.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Christiaan says, &ldquo;Aviation photography is quite big but consists mostly of spotters and people who take pictures from other planes from the ground. There are only a few photographers out there who actually take pictures from the cockpit, the weather and clouds, and the landscapes that we see from above. It is a little bit of a niche-market and I&#39;m one of the few who uses this vantage point to capture the spirit of flight.&rdquo;</p>

<p>He adds, &ldquo;There are also some like photographers of National Geographic and other big companies who use (this form) for example, to show how fast glaciers are melting, or how certain parts are polluting. I think the view from above certainly helped us understand how precious certain parts and systems are and help with mapping the world. But personally I do not want to do that, I just want to capture the beauty of the world. Every picture just shows the simple views, but if people want to draw conclusions after seeing them, that is up to them.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Flying over the mountains of Afghanistan changed the pilot-photographer. (Source: www.jpcvanheijst.com) (Others)</p>
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<p>In the picture, Chicago by night (Source: www.jpcvanheijst.com) (Others)</p>
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<p><strong>Learning on the move while flying</strong></p>

<p>Christiaan has flown all over the world except Antarctica with his camera, capturing landscapes and natural phenomena that occur once in a lifetime. Has it changed him?</p>

<p>He answers, &ldquo;The more I&#39;ve been taking pictures, the more I&#39;ve become aware of how delicate and beautiful light can be sometimes. It has not changed me very much, but I find it amazing that so few people (including pilots) are not even seeing the beauty that is visible to us every day and they only &#39;see&#39; the beauty after they see my photos. I realise more and more that my images can make people see the beauty in the world and appreciate the little things a bit more.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

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<h5>Recently, I was extremely lucky to witness and photograph the re-entry of an old Chinese rocket booster that happened to fall into the atmosphere exactly at the place where we were flying...The fireball appeared just next to us and &#39;flew&#39; all across the sky while I could take a few pictures of it.</h5>
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<p>Offering an alternate view of the already filmed objects, Christiaan narrates an incident he feels he was lucky to capture owing to a perfect medley of timeliness, scope and leverage: &ldquo;Just recently, I was extremely lucky to witness and photograph the re-entry of an old Chinese rocket booster that happened to fall into the atmosphere exactly at the place where we were flying. It was pure luck because nobody could predict the place where it would fall, nor was I prepared for it. The fireball appeared just next to us and &#39;flew&#39; all across the sky while I could take a few pictures of it. Being at the right place, right time and with a good camera.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>At this point, I am tempted to ask him about his best memory while flying and photographing. He says, &ldquo;One of the most beautiful things I&#39;ve seen was a large storm of Northern Lights over the Arctic Ocean, North of Alaska. The green and purple glow were moving very fast, for as far as the eye could see and was reflected in the ice below. That was something I will never forget. In another incident, in the beginning of my career I flew contract work in Afghanistan; based in Kabul we flew domestic flights with a small turboprop airplane to all sorts of local airports. Flying that low over Afghanistan has left a very deep impression on me, the beautiful Hindu Kush mountains and the breathtaking sceneries that are so remote and barely seen by people from the air.&rdquo;</p>

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<h5>In the beginning of my career I flew contract work in Afghanistan. Flying that low over Afghanistan has left a very deep impression on me, the beautiful Hindu Kush mountains and the breathtaking sceneries that are so remote and barely seen by people from the air.</h5>
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<p>What about challenges while conducting a dual job mid-air?</p>

<p>Christiaan emphasises that his &ldquo;airline allows him to take photographs&rdquo; and that he &ldquo;takes photos from the cockpit only if the workload and flight allow him to, as flying the airplane is always his number one priority&rdquo;. He flies long-range where the pilots are in &lsquo;cruise&rsquo; at high altitudes and don&rsquo;t have much to do. Also, they are flying often with 3 or 4 pilots at a time, where every pilot gets a few hour-breaks during the flight. &ldquo;During such a break I can take pictures without disturbing the other two pilots, or I can take pictures from the jumpseat in the cockpit while my colleagues are busy with landing the airplane&rdquo;, he adds. &nbsp;</p>

<p>As a pilot-photographer, Christiaan ensures that basics are taken care of. He says, &ldquo;During daytime, the main problem is to get rid of the reflections in the windows. All papers in the cockpit and uniforms we wear are white and tend to reflect in the windows during flight. Another problem is the thick, layered windows of the cockpit. When I zoom in through the windows, the thick glass makes the images blurry so I have to limit my zoom to get sharp images. During the night, challenges are different. I have to use long shutter times and that requires a very stable flight in smooth air. Very often the airplane is very stable and I can use shutter times of up to 20, sometimes 30 seconds without getting a blurry shot. Also, I use extreme fisheye lenses for the photos from the Northern Lights and Milky Way. Since they capture such a large area, a tiny bit of movement hardly shows in the end result, making it possible to use long shutter times without getting blurry photos. I still have to take about 20-25 photos to get at least one that is sharp enough.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>He adds, &ldquo;Some people ask me why the stars are still sharp while the airplane is moving so fast (950 km/h). The answer is that the stars and the moon are so extremely far away, that the movement of the airplane is negligible. During long exposures, the airplane might move fast but relative to the stars the movement is nothing. Of course, lights on the ground do move with those long shutter times, but the stars remain steady and sharp.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Towards the end, I ask him what remains to be his favourite photograph till date and he answers, &ldquo;The best photo still has to be made. I don&#39;t have any single photo that is my absolute favorite, but mostly I prefer the photos of the Northern Lights and the cockpit, that show how unique the view is we have as pilots and also shows how amazing the Northern Lights are, and how very small we are, even in a big plane high up in the sky.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>After a successful stint at authoring a photo book &lsquo;Cargopilot&rsquo; in 2016, Christiaan intends to remain a part-time photographer and a part-time pilot. He also enjoys writing and is considering exploring that too in the coming future.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p>(WION)</p>


"Flying that low over Afghanistan has left a very deep impression on me, the beautiful Hindu Kush mountains that are so remote and barely seen by people from the air", says Pilot Heijst.

“There is a realisation that the views we see from the cockpit with the large, clean windows, are reserved for only a very few people in the world. The happy few who manage to become an airline pilot. If I can share that experience of flying a 747 underneath the Northern Lights or over a moonlit ocean, I have brought that experience of being a pilot a little closer to the rest of the world that will never be able to sit in that seat.” This is how Christiaan van Heijst, a 34-year-old pilot describes his dual passion for flying and photographing the world from a bird’s eye view. With more than 7000 hours in his logbook, he is one of the few who has mastered the art of capturing the world’s best wonders, several thousand kilometres above the sea level. In an exclusive conversation with WION, Christiaan opens up about his journey, his unique style of aerial photography as a cargo pilot and all there is to know about being the man with the best window seat. "I realise more and more that my images can make people see the beauty in the world and appreciate the little things a bit more" says Christiaan (Source:www.jpcvanheijst.com) (Others) × Kickstarting an adrenaline rush Born and raised in The Netherlands, Christiaan was drawn to the sky at an early age. “I started with glider flying at the age of 14 and achieved my PPL (private pilot license) at the age of 18, even before my driver's license”, he says. Driven with a fondness for the art of flying, he began as an aerobatics pilot and competed with the Dutch National Aerobatics Championship. With first place in the beginners class at the age of 20, he was hired as a First Officer on the Fokker 50 Turboprop. He remembers, “I flew it for almost 2.5 years with operations ranging from European contracts to local African airlines and military operations in Afghanistan that have left a deep impression on me.” Breaking away from geographical boundaries and learning everything anew in the sky, his predilection for flying grew stronger. In 2006, he joined Transavia on the Boeing 737. He was then hired on the Boeing 747-400 at the age of 27, becoming one of the youngest pilots to be introduced on the very first 747-8 that entered service that same year. I am privileged to fly for a living and enjoy a life in the sky. × Considering himself “privileged to fly for a living and to enjoy a life in the sky”, Christiaan currently flies as a Senior First Officer on the Boeing 747-8 and -400 Freighter for Cargolux; one of Europe’s major all-cargo airline. But wait, where did the photographer and pilot in you meet? Christiaan explains how photography was not a new found love interest rather he “was always interested in it since around the age of 10 but it became much more of an interest” after he got his first job as an airline pilot. He says, “I immediately felt and understood that the views and landscapes that unfolded from so high up in the air are unique that I just had to capture them with a camera.” Following his appetite for taking good photos, he became an instant hit on social media when his photos became viral. Those are his “most widely known photos of an unexplained group of red lights in the Pacific Ocean, spotted on August 24th, 2014”. Christiaan adds, “Those photos unexpectedly went viral after I posted them on social media, being picked up by the Dutch blog Geenstijl and consequently generated a lot of attention worldwide.” The experience of taking pictures of the starry night is quite different from those taken on land than while airborne (Source: www.jpcvanheijst.com) (Others) × From thunderstorms to cloud formations, the pilot witnesses a bounty of natural wonder from his cockpit (Source:www.jpcvanheijst.com) (Others) × The art of clicking airborne Photographs are one of the best ways to communicate with an audience. Christiaan explains what he explores within this art form: “Photography for me, is more than just capturing some scenes, cockpits or clouds, it's my way to show the world how incredibly beautiful so many things are if you just take a moment to appreciate it. I’m lucky that I'm taking pictures from a unique vantage point so high up in the sky being a pilot, that allows me to see the entire world from a different perspective. The strong urge to capture the delicate plays of light had been present ever since, and I feel that I have to share as many of those views as possible while I'm able to.” I’m lucky that I'm taking pictures from a unique vantage point so high up in the sky being a pilot, that allows me to see the entire world from a different perspective. I feel I have to share as many of those views as possible while I'm able to. × For someone so mesmerised with natural lights and colours, I enquire him about storytelling via pictures. It is commonly learnt that every photograph speaks 1000 words, what story do your photos tell, I ask? Christiaan simply answers, “Actually, I do not try to tell a story with my photos, nor do I connect them with moral statements or messages. Nearly every shot speaks for itself, and as a whole, they convey the pure beauty of the world from above and through my eyes. I prefer the use of natural light in all its forms, and the only story I can actually think of is; just appreciate the world as it is. If I connect them with moral statements about religion or human pollution, they would lose their strength and essence. If my images make people realise or think a bit and see the bigger picture of the world and its beauty, that's a nice extra. “Every city looks different, but at night it’s often a huge cluster of millions of lights that are sometimes chaotic, sometimes drawn in straight lines where the roads are. During daylight, most cities look like a mass of grey spots and lines but are most distinctively different because of the geographical location. For example, some cities are defined by mountains or islands (like Hong Kong) or large rivers that were the main reason for the city to be founded (like Kinshasa or Novosibirsk). Major cities like Hong Kong or New York are also easily visible because of the skyscrapers and the high buildings in comparison with smaller cities that are often much less developed. Every city has its own characteristics and features that are often beautifully visible from above”, he adds. I do not try to tell a story with my photos, nor do I connect them with moral statements or messages. Nearly every shot speaks for itself × While he is busy capturing the nuances of nature with an upside-down view of the world, a few like Christiaan have given a boost to aviation photography as a lucrative career option. Christiaan says, “Aviation photography is quite big but consists mostly of spotters and people who take pictures from other planes from the ground. There are only a few photographers out there who actually take pictures from the cockpit, the weather and clouds, and the landscapes that we see from above. It is a little bit of a niche-market and I'm one of the few who uses this vantage point to capture the spirit of flight.” He adds, “There are also some like photographers of National Geographic and other big companies who use (this form) for example, to show how fast glaciers are melting, or how certain parts are polluting. I think the view from above certainly helped us understand how precious certain parts and systems are and help with mapping the world. But personally I do not want to do that, I just want to capture the beauty of the world. Every picture just shows the simple views, but if people want to draw conclusions after seeing them, that is up to them.” Flying over the mountains of Afghanistan changed the pilot-photographer. (Source: www.jpcvanheijst.com) (Others) × In the picture, Chicago by night (Source: www.jpcvanheijst.com) (Others) × Learning on the move while flying Christiaan has flown all over the world except Antarctica with his camera, capturing landscapes and natural phenomena that occur once in a lifetime. Has it changed him? He answers, “The more I've been taking pictures, the more I've become aware of how delicate and beautiful light can be sometimes. It has not changed me very much, but I find it amazing that so few people (including pilots) are not even seeing the beauty that is visible to us every day and they only 'see' the beauty after they see my photos. I realise more and more that my images can make people see the beauty in the world and appreciate the little things a bit more.” Recently, I was extremely lucky to witness and photograph the re-entry of an old Chinese rocket booster that happened to fall into the atmosphere exactly at the place where we were flying...The fireball appeared just next to us and 'flew' all across the sky while I could take a few pictures of it. × Offering an alternate view of the already filmed objects, Christiaan narrates an incident he feels he was lucky to capture owing to a perfect medley of timeliness, scope and leverage: “Just recently, I was extremely lucky to witness and photograph the re-entry of an old Chinese rocket booster that happened to fall into the atmosphere exactly at the place where we were flying. It was pure luck because nobody could predict the place where it would fall, nor was I prepared for it. The fireball appeared just next to us and 'flew' all across the sky while I could take a few pictures of it. Being at the right place, right time and with a good camera.” At this point, I am tempted to ask him about his best memory while flying and photographing. He says, “One of the most beautiful things I've seen was a large storm of Northern Lights over the Arctic Ocean, North of Alaska. The green and purple glow were moving very fast, for as far as the eye could see and was reflected in the ice below. That was something I will never forget. In another incident, in the beginning of my career I flew contract work in Afghanistan; based in Kabul we flew domestic flights with a small turboprop airplane to all sorts of local airports. Flying that low over Afghanistan has left a very deep impression on me, the beautiful Hindu Kush mountains and the breathtaking sceneries that are so remote and barely seen by people from the air.” In the beginning of my career I flew contract work in Afghanistan. Flying that low over Afghanistan has left a very deep impression on me, the beautiful Hindu Kush mountains and the breathtaking sceneries that are so remote and barely seen by people from the air. × What about challenges while conducting a dual job mid-air? Christiaan emphasises that his “airline allows him to take photographs” and that he “takes photos from the cockpit only if the workload and flight allow him to, as flying the airplane is always his number one priority”. He flies long-range where the pilots are in ‘cruise’ at high altitudes and don’t have much to do. Also, they are flying often with 3 or 4 pilots at a time, where every pilot gets a few hour-breaks during the flight. “During such a break I can take pictures without disturbing the other two pilots, or I can take pictures from the jumpseat in the cockpit while my colleagues are busy with landing the airplane”, he adds. As a pilot-photographer, Christiaan ensures that basics are taken care of. He says, “During daytime, the main problem is to get rid of the reflections in the windows. All papers in the cockpit and uniforms we wear are white and tend to reflect in the windows during flight. Another problem is the thick, layered windows of the cockpit. When I zoom in through the windows, the thick glass makes the images blurry so I have to limit my zoom to get sharp images. During the night, challenges are different. I have to use long shutter times and that requires a very stable flight in smooth air. Very often the airplane is very stable and I can use shutter times of up to 20, sometimes 30 seconds without getting a blurry shot. Also, I use extreme fisheye lenses for the photos from the Northern Lights and Milky Way. Since they capture such a large area, a tiny bit of movement hardly shows in the end result, making it possible to use long shutter times without getting blurry photos. I still have to take about 20-25 photos to get at least one that is sharp enough.” He adds, “Some people ask me why the stars are still sharp while the airplane is moving so fast (950 km/h). The answer is that the stars and the moon are so extremely far away, that the movement of the airplane is negligible. During long exposures, the airplane might move fast but relative to the stars the movement is nothing. Of course, lights on the ground do move with those long shutter times, but the stars remain steady and sharp.” Towards the end, I ask him what remains to be his favourite photograph till date and he answers, “The best photo still has to be made. I don't have any single photo that is my absolute favorite, but mostly I prefer the photos of the Northern Lights and the cockpit, that show how unique the view is we have as pilots and also shows how amazing the Northern Lights are, and how very small we are, even in a big plane high up in the sky.” After a successful stint at authoring a photo book ‘Cargopilot’ in 2016, Christiaan intends to remain a part-time photographer and a part-time pilot. He also enjoys writing and is considering exploring that too in the coming future. (WION)

The unique vantage point: Pilot Heijst captures world's wonders from his window seat

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