The Northern Lights Live Online

Launched on September 20, 2010 The AuroraMAX online observatory began streaming Canada's northern lights live over the Internet providing to the world-wide web a new window on the Universe.

AuroraMAX, a new web portal dedicated to the science and the splendour of the aurora borealis, is a collaborative public engagement initiative between the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), the University of Calgary, the City of Yellowknife and Astronomy North.

In addition to nightly broadcasts of the aurora, AuroraMAX helps to demystify the science behind the phenomenon, offer tips for seeing and photographing auroras, and highlight Canadian research on the Sun-Earth relationship. The website also includes an image gallery with still photos and movies from previous nights.

Auroras occur as charged particles from the Sun collide with gases in Earth's upper atmosphere. The launch of AuroraMAX coincides with the beginning of aurora season in northern Canada, which generally begins in late August or early September and ends in May.

Aurora enthusiasts will be able to follow AuroraMAX through solar maximum, the most active period of the Sun's 11-year cycle, which should produce more frequent and intense auroras on Earth. Solar maximum is currently expected in 2013.

Enjoy tonight's performance at:
AuroraMAX

Other links:
News release: The Northern Lights Live Online
Astronomy North
University of Calgary
Yellowknife – Canada's Host Community for AuroraMAX