weather.com-3/7/13, Jess Baker
You're running out of time to see the Northern Lights during their latest peak.
The Northern Lights, also known as the aurora borealis, take the shape of smoking skies, pinwheels or curtains. They're seen most often near the poles, with prime viewing in late fall, winter, and very early spring.
The aurora is caused by solar particles moving in Earth's magnetosphere. NASA explains "when the magnetic fields lines reconnect in an area known as the magnetotail, energy is released and it sends the particles down onto Earth's poles." At one point the atoms give off a photon of light, which result in the spectacular colors in the sky.
For more information on this story and beautiful pictures go to weather.com.
