Aurora borealis: 15 must-see spots for checking out the northern lights

The northern lights — or the aurora borealis — are one of the most incredible natural phenomena in the world. Caused when charged particles from the sun collide with atoms in Earth’s atmosphere, the sky erupts into a rainbow of color. Sky chasers hunt down the inky green, yellow and pink glow, attempting to photograph its unnerving beauty. But the incredible sight is simply more magnificent in person than captured on film.

To experience the magic for yourself, one must brave the extreme Arctic regions of the northern hemisphere. The exact timing varies by location, but they generally can be seen between September and March, so you’ll need to bundle up for this winter adventure.

Click through the gallery above to find the best places to see the northern lights, as chosen by GoBankingRates.com. The site has chosen 15 locations in Alaska, Canada, Iceland, Greenland, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Scotland.

Now's the time: Airfare to Europe is so darn cheap right now, you’ll kick yourself if you don’t go

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