![]() Steamboat Rock State Park is another protected area that’s known for its views. Here are the best places to see the Northern Lights in Washington state: Steamboat Rock State Park For the state of Washington, you need to rely on a 5 to see the aurora – maybe a 4, depending on where you are in the state. Seattle is actually in the Kp-index 5 zone. Washington is well situated.Īccording to the Kp-index, a mere 4 is needed for guaranteed visibility from Vancouver (just north of the state) or Billings, Montana (in line with the bottom of the state) however, since the Earth is a globe, the line that runs through these places curve on a map just like latitude, meaning that Middle latitudes need more of a 7 to be able to see them, while lower latitudes (closer to the equator) need an 8 or 9. Meteorologists then use an algorithm adjusted to the latitude at which the recording was measured to determine the odds of seeing the Northern Lights in that location.Īnything below a 4 and you are unlikely to see the Lights, regardless of your position on Earth. The Kp-index is measured by recording the geomagnetic activity at certain places across the globe over a three hour period. It is a scale from 0 to 9 that rates the likelihood of the aurora, with 0 meaning extremely unlikely visibility and 9 denoting an extreme geomagnetic storm. It’s possible to forecast the Northern Lights’ appearance thanks to the Kp-index. What is the KP-Index and how does that relate to seeing the northern lights in Washington? It’s hardly a once-in-a-lifetime experience for residents, and the odds are higher for vacationers visiting Washington than if they wanted to view the lights from, say, Wyoming. In September 2021, a photo taken by an amateur aurora chaser documented the Lights off Neah Bay, the most northwestern tip of Washington.īased on the most recent sightings, it’s safe to say that the Northern Lights are a common occurrence in Washington state. The aurora was so strong that a time-lapse video taken of the skyline over Seattle shows the colors dancing despite the city’s light pollution. Just before that, a slightly grander sighting was recorded in October 2021. At around 1:00-2:00 in the morning, several night owls from central Washington captured photos of a seemingly phosphorescent sky colored with swathes of green and pink. The last time the aurora was seen was very recently, just in February 2022. When was the last time the northern lights was visible in Washington? You can certainly see the Northern Lights from Washington. It is not only possible to see the Northern Lights in Washington state, it is proven! There have been recorded instances – by word-of-mouth and through photographic evidence – of the aurora painting the Pacific skyline. Can you see the northern lights in Washington? You don’t have to go that far afield, though. Iceland and other nordic countries are popular destinations for aurora cruises or overnight camping vacations. Many destinations sell their tourist industry based on the Northern Lights. The truth is that our planet (as well as a few others in the system) is capable of beautiful – and harmless – things. Over the centuries, people have mistaken the aurora borealis as a sign from the gods, a nuclear fallout, Judgement Day … anything supernatural. Technically an interference in the magnetosphere caused by solar wind, we view them with awe and grandeur. Spend the night in the nearby Ilimanaq settlement, where you’ll find 15 new tourist chalets that are part of Realdania By & Byg’s portfolio of properties with special architectural or historic interest.The Northern Lights are a phenomenon that date back as far as time itself. Together, they erected a visitor’s center that would match this spectacular setting and teach people about the natural and cultural history of the area. This summer, the architecturally stunning Ilulissat Icefjord Centre opened, giving people an exciting new reason to visit Greenland. The project was funded by three entities that established a partnership to raise awareness about this unique location: the Danish philanthropic association Realdania, the Government of Greenland and Avannaata Municipality. One of the best viewing locations is the 37-mile-long Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO-protected site and the fastest-moving glacier in the world. Plus, all the small towns and settlements keep light pollution to a minimum. Though it’s geographically part of North America, Greenland is politically part of Europe-and it’s a particularly good place to see the northern lights, since the country has hundreds of clear sky nights every year. Dorte Mandrup Behold the Northern Lights from a Glacier in Greenland The northern lights over Greenland's remarkable new Ilulissat Icefjord Centre.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |