One of the most incredible natural wonders of the northern hemisphere, and something which has many people looking to book a cruise holiday around Norway and the Arctic in particular, is aurora borealis – the northern lights. But were you aware of the southern equivalent – aurora australis?

The occurrence is essentially the same as the northern counterpart but, quite obviously, takes place in the southern hemisphere. They are usually visible in Antarctica, South America, Australia and New Zealand, or indeed from space – as this time lapse video from the International Space Station shows:

An incredible video, I’m sure you’ll agree, and it was shot just at the end of July. It is a stunning phenomenon and one that still inspires wonder amongst all who view it, regardless of whether you’re seeing the lights for the first time or you’re an experienced aurora-chaser.

Have you ever seen the northern or the southern lights? Perhaps you’ve heard the rumoured clapping sound that is sometimes associated with them, on extremely rare occasions when the night air is still and the lights are strongest? Let us know in the comments, or if you want to know more about potential cruises to these destinations, in the hope of seeing the lights for yourself, just call our Cruise Concierge.