AuroraMAX aurora borealis simulator

The AuroraMAX aurora borealis simulator is currently at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.

This interactive exhibition lets you learn the following on a big screen:

• how the northern lights form in the Earth's upper atmosphere;
• how we can observe them on Earth;
• the effects of solar activity on Earth.

An interactive experience

A contact-free system perceives hand movements, allowing the user to interact directly with the simulator in order to:

• visit the planets of the solar system;
• learn more about the phenomena that produce the auroras;
• better understand the effects of solar activity on the Earth.

You can also:

• draw your own aurora and send it by email as a virtual postcard;
• see live images of the Sun;
• explore an image and video gallery.

Admire the auroras without having to travel

If you can't get to the Canadian North, you have two options for admiring the auroras:

• You can see the aurora borealis live from Yellowknife on your computer thanks to the AuroraMAX virtual observatory.