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Phileas Fogg and Passepartout approach the Swiss Alps

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Aurora Lights
 Aurora Polaris
One of the most spectacular natural wonders you can witness in your lifetime is to either see the Northern or Southern Lights.  They are awesome and mesmerizing and will give you a sense of reverence for the power and beauty of the forces that operate in the Universe.   Although the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) which occur in the Northern Hemisphere near the polar region are the most well-known and talked about, the same phenomenon also occurs in the Southern Hemisphere and in Antarctica where it is called the Southern Lights (Aurora Australis).  The term Aurora Lights or Aurora Polaris is used when referring to both the Northern and Southern Lights. 
 
Here is a special treat ---- Ed Lu, the science officer abroad the International Space Station, looked out his window on 12 June, 2003 and grabbed his digital camera and took pictures of the Aurora Borealis from space. These have been stitched together by NASA into a 3 minute 17 second movie. It is simply magnificent!

If you get a chance to see the Aurora Lights someday, it is a light show you will remember for as long as you live.

If you want to sign up for a phone call and email alerts for when you will see Aurora lights in your area, check out the SpaceWeather -phone service.
 		 Aurora - The Mysterious Northern Lights
Northern Lights
Also known as Aurora Borealis can be seen in northern parts of Alaska, Russia, Sweden, Norway, Canada and all of Greenland. Can be seen near or above the arctic circle from October to March.   
 

Best places

Best Months

Forecast/Alerts

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Alaska, Russia, Sweden, Norway, Canada and all of Greenland.

October - March

 ● Google Search
● Forecast Sites
 ● SpaceW
 ● SpaceWeather		 Books
 
Books		 Videos Go Go Go Go
List List
 

 Some Tour Companies

Arctic Odysseys

Aurora Tours of Yukon

Abisco

  
 
Aurora - Your Guide to the Northern and Southern Lights.  One of the two best websites we have found about the Aurora lights.  They cover both the Northern Aurora Borealis and Southern Aurora Australis Lights.
 
Nordlys Northern-Lights. The other great website we have found. They focus on the Northern Lights.
 
Northern-Lights -Where To Observe  Lists the places in the world where you can observe the Northern lights.
 
Auroras - Paintings in the Sky.  The University of California at Berkeley has put together a beautiful website on the Aurora lights.
 
Southern Lights
Also known as Aurora Australis.  It can be seen in parts of Australia (as far north as Armidale in New South Wales), Tasmania, and New Zealand during the Winter months (June, July, August) and in Antarctica from March to September. (It is daylight in Antarctica the rest of the time.)
 

Best Months

Best Places

Forecast/Alerts

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Antarctica March - September

Aurora Alerts

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Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand June - August List  List
 

 Some Tour Companies

Southern Lights Antarctica Tours

Southern Lights Tasmania Tours

Southern Lights New Zealand Tours
 
Aurora - Your Guide to the Northern and Southern Lights.  One of the two best websites we have found about the Aurora lights.  They cover both the Northern Aurora Borealis and Southern Aurora Australis Lights.
 
AntarcticConnection-Aurora Australis.  Everything you want to know about the Southern Lights in Australia including a good description of the phenomenon.
 
Aurora Australis Photos. Some good photos of the Aurora Australis.
 
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