They appear in different forms, almost always in wavering motion, and they radiate many colours from pale yellow to lime green and an awe-inspiring red. There are different types of Aurora viewing adventures for winter visitors to the Yukon. Whether you're in Watson Lake, Whitehorse or Dawson City, there are a number of operators who offer Northern Lights viewing as part of their package tours, and others who will put a special excursion together to suit your needs. The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, are caused by a huge explosion on the surface of the sun known as a solar flare. The solar wind is drawn towards Earth's magnetic fields and concentrated on the north and south poles.
Different gases glow different colours.
Yet many people receive a sensation of crackling or rustling noise when they see the lights.