Northern hemisphere v. Southern hemisphere night sky. Is one more impressive than the other? (2014, land)

[kanhawk]

I have never been to the southern hemisphere but as someone interested in looking at the stars and the night sky, how does the southern sky compare to the northern night sky for those who have seen both? Is it any more impressive or about the same?

[rorro]

The northern lights alone make the northern sky better!

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by rorro

The northern lights alone make the northern sky better!

What about the southern lights? You know those exist right?

[rorro]

Originally Posted by Gentoo

What about the southern lights? You know those exist right?

Yes, but I thought northern lights were easier to see. I could be wrong though.

[Magnatomicflux]

Originally Posted by rorro

The northern lights alone make the northern sky better!

Ehhh.........you really have to be close to, or above the 49th parallel to see them with any frequency or intensity.

I have seen them a few times here in Windsor, Ontario....at the 42nd parallel, but the solar winds have to be blowing just right.

[rorro]

Originally Posted by Magnatomicflux

Ehhh.........you really have to be close to, or above the 49th parallel to see them with any frequency or intensity.

I have seen them a few times here in Windsor, Ontario....at the 42nd parallel, but the solar winds have to be blowing just right.

Yeah I know, I've been to Iceland but couldn't see them.
But I thought southern lights were much harder to see. Apparently they can be seen in New Zealand, Australia and Argentina.

[artemis agrotera]

Originally Posted by rorro

Yes, but I thought northern lights were easier to see. I could be wrong though.

Tasmania has great viewing of 'southern lights'

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=s...ights+tasmania

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by rorro

Yes, but I thought northern lights were easier to see. I could be wrong though.

Maybe only because there is more land in the northern hemisphere and thus more places for people to see them. They occur at the same latitudes in the southern hemisphere though.

[Magnatomicflux]

Originally Posted by Gentoo

Maybe only because there is more land in the northern hemisphere and thus more places for people to be to see them. They occur at the same latitudes in the southern hemisphere though.

I would agree with this.

North:




South:

[artemis agrotera]

this was in the paper over the weekend.

He said recent displays of light over Tasmania were evidence that the solar maximum phase was now dominating, meaning solar flares and coronal mass ejection were occurring more frequently.


Aurora Australis more than just a lightshow