In winter, you may be lucky enough to see the red and green waves swaying in the dark sky. This is the most beautiful gift of the universe - the Northern Lights. In ancient China, it was believed that the light was created by two warring dragons, while in ancient Rome it was believed to have been created by the goddess Aurora.
But what exactly are the Northern Lights? We already know today that the aurora is a process in which high-energy particles from the sun enter the vicinity of the earth, are guided by the geomagnetic field to the poles and collide with nitrogen atoms and oxygen atoms in the upper atmosphere to luminescence. The light is primarily green, but can also have red, blue or yellow tinges.
Renowned astrophysicist Tina Ibsen takes us on an exciting journey in the Northern Lights, from the deepest recesses of the sun to places on Earth where the phenomenon can be experienced. Along the way, she explains the science behind the wondrous sight, and at the end she tells you how to experience the Northern Lights for yourself.

Tina Ibsen
A trained astrophysicist and independent scientist from the Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen and has been part of the European research project Comesep, where she has especially looked at Solstormes movement through the solar system.
From 2013 to 2019, she was employed at Tycho Brahe Planetarium as head of science and the dissemination department. Tina has always been fascinated by space and thinks it is great that the astronomy can ask the big questions. For many years, she shared her enthusiasm and knowledge about astronomy and space in radio and television. She has won awards for her communication work at the Tycho Brahe Planetarium, where she previously served as a communication manager.