An aurora is a natural light display in the sky particularly in the high latitude (Arctic and Antarctic) regions, caused by the collision of energetic charged particles with atoms in the high altitude atmosphere (thermosphere). The charged particles originate in the magnetosphere and solar wind and, on Earth, are directed by the Earth’s magnetic field into the atmosphere.

In northern latitudes, the effect is known as the aurora borealis (or the northern lights), named after the Roman goddess of dawn, Aurora, and the Greek name for the north wind, Boreas, by Pierre Gassendi in 1621. The Cree call this phenomenon the “Dance of the Spirits”.

So – the idea is simple… get as far North as possible, find some dancing spirits and get jiggy with it!

This challenge is now complete! In November 2012 I headed over to Tromso, in Northern Norway.