Looks like Sam went to see northern lights at the wrong time of the year.
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/20mar_spring.htm
http://www.spaceweather.com/aurora/gallery_01mar10_page2.htm?PHPSESSID=rsscqvjrlalmu1hf5i82q03951
(http://www.spaceweather.com/aurora/images2010/03mar10/Yuichi-Takasaka1_med.jpg)