The earliest known references to auroras date back to the Old Testament, and in the 2,500 years since then the northern lights have fascinated casual skywatchers and scientists alike. But probably fewer than 5 percent of the Earth's inhabitants during this period have ever seen an aurora, since auroras usually appear only at high northern and southern latitudes, far from the world's population centers.

However, dedicated skywatchers who keep their eyes open have a much better chance than the public at large. And the odds of sighting an aurora on any given night are about at their best right now (2000) and will remain so through the next couple of years. Auroras make their way down to temperate latitudes during magnetic storms (temporary disturbances in the Earth's magnetic field) that originate from activity on the Sun.