Most often draped in shades of green, they sometimes choose a hint of pink. The stronger ones, come clad in hues of purple and white, the red one; she’s most elusive of them all. They paint the night sky unearthly and surreal, the northern lights; this year you must befall.

Similar to a sunset at night, the aurora borealis is one of the most spectacular natural phenomena that one can witness. 2013 coincides with ‘solar maximum’, when the sun is at the peak of its nine- to 14-year solar cycle; the best time to see the lights in 12 years. You can catch them till about mid-April this year. They are caused by charged particles ejected from the sun. When these particles reach the earth, they collide with gas atoms in the earth’s atmosphere causing them to energize resulting in a spectacular multi-coloured light show lasting from a few minutes to a couple of days.

Aurora hunters across the globe are heading north in their endless quest for the ‘spirits of the sky’. They come in spirals, ribbons, bands, arcs or coronas usually following the earth’s magnetic field; they are never the same. “The very first time I witnessed them for myself I was literally speechless. I think that it’s fair to say that I’ve become somewhat addicted to them,” says Andy Keen, veteran aurora hunter. “In order to fully appreciate the magnificence of this natural light display it simply has to be witnessed first-hand and, believe me, it’s something that’s well worth braving the elements for.”

The Lights usually circle the globe in a circular or elliptical band centered on the earth’s North Magnetic Pole, which is not at the same location as the North Geographic Pole, but rather is offset in the direction of northern Canada. Auroral displays aren’t strongest at the North Magnetic Pole; the band of greatest auroral activity is usually offset from the Magnetic Pole by 20 degrees or so. For the best views, head to Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Alaska, Northern Canada, Greenland Scotland or Denmark. Russia is a good option too.