• Question: have you ever seen the northern lights?

    Asked by to Mark, Matthew, Mike, Paul, Sabina on 18 Mar 2014. This question was also asked by .
    • Photo: Matthew Malek

      Matthew Malek answered on 18 Mar 2014:

      Have I ever seen the Northern lights? Ah, I wish! You’re talking to the unluckiest guy when it comes to seeing an aurora!

      For our ten year anniversary, my partner and I went on a cruise to Alaska. We were really hoping to see the Northern lights, and we stayed out late most evenings hoping to catch a glimpse. Only one night did we go to bed early, to get some rest before an early morning where we had to get up at 5:30am to visit a glacier. Well, guess which was the one evening that week when the aurora was visible? You got it!

      For that matter, I’ve never seen the Southern lights either. I’ll not give up hope, though! One of these days I shall witness the beauty of an aurora! (I’m not picky — either North or South will do!)

      Now, that said, I did read a copy of Phillip Pullman’s book, “Northern Lights”, set in an alternative universe version of my home city of Oxford! And when I worked at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, I used to live in a town near Chicago called “Aurora”. But I don’t think either counts, do they? 🙂

    • Photo: Paul Coxon

      Paul Coxon answered on 18 Mar 2014:

      Only photos, never in real life.

      The Northern Lights appeared over UK skies recently but couldn’t be seen here in Cambridge. I’d love to see them for real. I need to find a reason to go to the Arctic while they’re happening. 🙂

    • Photo: Mike Lee

      Mike Lee answered on 19 Mar 2014:

      No, but I would love to! Have you?

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