Aurora may be visible in Korea this summer: 3 good spots to watch rare event

Forget trekking to the Arctic. This summer, the skies over Korea may offer a rare surprise. The Aurora Borealis, also known as the northern lights, is renowned for its otherworldly beauty, but not typically visible from Korea. People usually travel to Arctic regions like Norway, Iceland or Alaska, U.S., to catch a glimpse of the elusive celestial phenomenon. Thanks to heightened solar activity, the aurora could become visible here this summer, giving Korean skywatchers a reason to look up. “Auroras happen when solar activity is high, and we’re experiencing that kind of activity this summer,” Won Chi-bok of the Korean Amateur Astronomical Society told The Korea Times. Auroras occur when supercharged particles from the sun race toward earth at speeds of up to 72 million kilometers per hour. When they collide with the upper atmosphere, earth’s magnetic field acts like a protective shield, redirecting the particles toward the north and south poles. There, the interaction between solar particles and atmospheric gases creates breathtaking ribbons of light that shimmer across the nightWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times