Northern Lights: The definitive guide to auroras

Collins Astronomy

by Tom Kerss, Royal Observatory Greenwich, Collins Astronomy

The perfect gift for anyone with a desire to see the Northern Lights.
Discover the incomparable beauty of the Northern Lights with this accessible guide for aspiring astronomers and seasoned night sky observers. Covers the essential equipment needed for observation and photography and full of stunning photographs.


Tom Kerss covers the cultural and scientific context for auroras, and offers a comprehensive guide to forecasting and photography, so that readers can fuse their own technical mastery with the infinite creativity of nature.



Read about the formation, properties and types of auroras
Discover the mythology and history of The Northern Lights
Find out about Aurora science from Antiquity to the modern day
Learn how to take stunning photographs of the Northern Lights
Includes a comprehensive travel and forecasting guide and a glossary of key terms.

The Northern Lights will give you a complete understanding of one of the true wonders of the natural world and leave you prepared for the adventure of a lifetime.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Astronomy, Ebooks, Education, Audiobook

112 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 2, 2021

About the author

Tom Kerss F.R.A.S. is an astronomer and the author of numerous best selling books about the night sky for both adults and children. Having worked at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich for more than six years, he now shares his passion for the stars with people all over the world, delivering courses, podcasts and media interviews. Tom loves nothing more than to seek out the darkest and most beautiful skies on Earth, but he does most of his stargazing from his home in London. Find out more about Tom's projects at tomkerss.co.uk

Reviews

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 4 out of 5]

Northern Lights is a rich and extensive guide to the phenomenon known as Aurora Borealis and everything associated with it. Every (pandemic-free) year, hundreds of thousands of people travel to arctic climes with the goal of witnessing the Northern Lights. It is a verified ‘must see’ natural wonder, which has cemented itself on every major bucket list. Many mysteries remain about the behaviour of auroras, but the major facts about their formation have been established. Yet, none of their magic has been eroded. A playful display of the Northern Lights remains an overwhelmingly wonderful sight, even for seasoned aurora-chasers. It is no surprise that, throughout history, they inspired so many creative legends and stories, not just limited to people native to high latitudes. 

In the ancient Greek age of natural philosophy, scrutiny into the origin of the Northern Lights was surprisingly prevalent but constrained by a limited picture of the Earth. Much later, with the scientific revolution in 17th Century Europe, they were discussed extensively, and as knowledge about our planet grew, so too did our understanding of the intimate, unbroken relationship between it and its parent star. Yet, even as polar explorers ventured beneath the auroras, and physicists developed increasingly more sophisticated models for their origin, some aspects continued to puzzle scientists well into the space age.

This book presents research into the history of the Northern Lights. We’ll see how the Lights were interpreted and studied throughout history, and how key breakthroughs have advanced our understanding of the space weather environment, as well as solar and terrestrial atmospheric physics. Along the way, we’ll meet the important figures – some of whom deserve more credit than they currently receive – that unlocked the mysteries of this strange and beautiful phenomenon through ingenuity of thought and clever technology. A comprehensive guide perfect for both a beginner’s overview and a refresher for those who perhaps want to brush up on their knowledge of the topic, this is a fascinating, authoritative and well-researched book with text complemented by vivid, full-colour photography. Highly recommended.

[Dannii Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short book was split into distinct parts that covered the history of the northern lights, the science behind them, and how to best view them for yourself. I found myself interested in everything this contained even if, for me personally, the first two were of the most value. This might have been short but it packed in a huge amount of information and all of it was imparted clearly and in unambiguous terms.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Tom Kerss, and the publisher, Collins, for this opportunity.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for a trip to Iceland to see the northern lights and it’s really useful. It tells the folklore associated with the lights, the science behind them, how to spot them, how to work out when is the best time to travel, what to wear, and how to plan a trip. Everything you could possibly want or need to know is inside this concise volume.
I did see the lights and they were every bit as beautiful as I hope they would be.

[Kylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Narrator 5 stars

Book 5 stars

This was a fantastic educational book. I learnt alot from it and hopefully one day when the world is a little more calm I can visit the lights.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Northern Lights: The Definitive Guide to Auroras by the Royal Observatory, narrated by the ever-brilliant Tom Kerss, is an absolute delight for anyone captivated by this breathtaking natural phenomenon. Though not the longest book on the subject, it’s perfectly laid out, packed with vibrant photographs, and brimming with insightful explanations that make the auroras come alive.

What stood out to me was how well this guide balances the science and cultural lore of the Northern Lights. Kerss takes us on a fascinating journey, starting with the history and mythology surrounding auroras before diving into the modern science behind their formation, properties, and types. His narration is engaging and accessible, making complex ideas digestible for beginners while still offering plenty of depth for seasoned enthusiasts.

For those eager to see the auroras in person, the practical advice is invaluable. The sections on forecasting, choosing the right equipment, and capturing awe-inspiring photographs are incredibly detailed yet easy to follow. I especially loved the tips on photography techniques and processing tools—it made me excited to try capturing these lights myself someday.

The inclusion of online resources, a glossary, and suggestions for further reading makes this guide feel like a comprehensive toolkit for aurora enthusiasts. And the photographs? Absolutely stunning. They don’t just illustrate the text; they elevate the experience, offering a visual feast that complements the rich descriptions.

Whether you’re a nature lover, a budding photographer, or just curious about our planet’s wonders, this book is a treasure. It’s informative, inspiring, and beautifully crafted—a guide I’d recommend to anyone dreaming of seeing the Northern Lights in all their glory.

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not the biggest book about the northern lights, but it is a well laid out and informative one. There are loads of coloured photographs, charts graphs, in fact, there are photos on every page. These are informative and add to the descriptions and explanations.

The author charts the historical perception of the northern lights following through until we are up to date with the science, observations and thoughts of today's experts. While there is some science and terminology, it isn't too much and I thought it was ideal for a beginner or someone who is just generally interested in this spectacular phenomenon.

The later sections of the books are aimed at those wanting to visit various areas to see the lights, and also some brilliant tips on how to get the best photos. Also what additional equipment or proce3ssing software you might want to look at for developing your best shots.

This is a fabulous little guidebook laying out the basics, ideal for anyone who is interested in our planet, photography, nature and science. A wonderful list of online resources, a glossary and further reading for those wanting to take their interest further. I really enjoyed the photos there are some really amazing shots, and they complimented the writing.

A wonderful book that I would definitely recommend.

[Lady · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a absolutely fantastic book. It was concise to the point and explained everything you could ever want to know about the northern lights. It contains the history of them and an easy if you know your science of how they are created. It was full of stunning photographs that I was in awe of. It had information on what times of year is the best to see them. How to use your phone camera and other camera to create the best pictures. He explained lens and how to edit and take the best quality pictures. I loved it all and learnt so much from reading it. It flowed seamlessly from section to section.
I really recommend reading this book if you have an interest in the night sky or if you want to visit or your a budding photographer. You won't be disappointed.
I could really see from reading this book that the author was both knowledgeable and passionate about the subject and definitely had many years of experience.
Only the highest of praise goes out to the author and publishers for creating such an educational and easy to use guide that I'm sure you will love and learn from just as much as I did.

[Catherine Craig (Angelic Light) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent scientific audiobook, which explores the Northern Lights, also known as Auroras. I found this book very interesting indeed and I learned a lot of new information, which was fascinating. The audiobook narrator did a great job at explaining everything in an easy to listen to fashion. This would be a great book to have in schools and colleges, for children and adults to learn from. The book goes into detail about how auroras are formed, their properties and the different types of auroras. It also shows mythology and history and gives information on how to take photographs of auroras.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

[Jurga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dense and interesting little book on Northern Lights, otherwise known as Aurora Borealis. Book is briming woth information - from quick mythology observation, to physics side of the phenomena, to useful tips for the aurora chasing beginners.
I do have to say, that physics is not strong side of science for me, especially as dense as this, it nevertheless is interesting and it does shed some light (see what I did there?) to how this stunning show on Earth becomes visible.
I mostly enjoyed the mythology side of it and some curious facts, such as.. Auroras are not exclusive Earth phenomena, they can be visible at other planets, too!

P.S. the images in this book are captivating and definitely adds the value to the reading experience.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has all the information you need on northern lights and aurora in general. Myth and legends, early maps and drawings. Northern and southern hemisphere and the difference in colours etc. Fascinating book with many diagrams and photographs. There is also a whole section dedicated to taking photographs, what kit you need, speed, light, settings, special effects such as silhouette and even light-room techniques. All you ever need to know is here in this book. Thank you #NetGalley for the copy to review.

[Denice Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

After living in interior Alaska for 30 years, I thought there was nothing I could learn about the Northern lights. I was wrong. The University of Alaska Fairbanks offers many classes on the aurora. I went through them all and still Tom Kerss has shared a new look at some of the most beautiful naturally occuring phenomenom anyone could see. So whether you've set in the snow and ice for hours to watch the aurora or just hope to some day, this book is definitely a winner.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of beautiful pictures of auroras, this book also included some scientific information on how auroras appear and some notes on how they were discovered. The last chapters of the book are dedicated to planning aurora-search trips and taking stunning photos of them.

[Mrs Karen Bull · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant book, love Northern lights and this book shows you the magic of the lights. Perfect gift for