Wowwww

Incredible. Aurora is a natural light display that occurs in the Earth's polar regions, commonly known as the aurora borealis (in the northern hemisphere) or the aurora australis (in the southern hemisphere). These colorful, shimmering lights are created when charged particles from the Sun interact with the Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere.

Here's a breakdown of how it works:

The Sun emits a stream of charged particles called the solar wind.

These particles collide with gases like oxygen and nitrogen in the Earth’s atmosphere.

The collisions release energy in the form of light, which we see as the aurora. The specific colors depend on which gases are being excited by the particles.

Green is the most common color, often caused by oxygen molecules about 60 miles above Earth's surface.

Red auroras can happen when oxygen is located higher up (above 150 miles).

Blue and purple colors are usually caused by nitrogen molecules.

Auroras are most visible in high-latitude regions, like Scandinavia, Canada, Alaska, and parts of Russia for the aurora borealis, or around Antarctica for the aurora australis. These light shows are not only mesmerizing but also a key example of the fascinating interactions between the Earth’s atmosphere, magnetic field, and solar activity.