Table of Contents
Keep reading for Hotel Rangá’s list of fun facts about the northern lights.
Don’t look up!
Many years ago, pregnant women in Iceland were told not to look at the northern lights. Why? For fear that their child would become cross-eyed.
A Colorful Combination
Every northern lights display is unique. The color and movements change all the time, meaning you can see the lights again and again and still feel inspired.
Around the Galaxy
Earth is not the only planet that has auroras. In fact, astronomers have seen the lights on Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Jupiter.
The First Photograph
Nowadays, professional photographers fly to Iceland just to take photos of the aurora. But the first photograph of the northern lights was taken on January 5, 1892 by German astronomer and physicist Otto Rudolf Martin Brendel.
A Roman Goddess
The name aurora borealis actually has Greek and Roman origins. Aurora is the goddess of the dawn and Boreas is a Greek word for the north wind.
What Does it Mean?
Cultures from around the world have associated the northern lights with a variety of meanings. The British and French thought they were a bad omen whereas Scandinavians believed they foreshadowed good things.
