Aurora - National Geographic Society
WebOct 19, 2023 · An aurora is a natural light display that shimmers in the sky. Blue, red, yellow, green, and orange lights shift gently and change shape like softly blowing curtains. Auroras are only visible at night, and usually only appear in lower polar regions. Auroras are visible almost every night near the Arctic and Antarctic Circles, which are about 66.5 …
We finally know what sparks the Northern Lights | Popular Science
WebJun 21, 2021 · Auroras appear when solar storms, outbursts of radiation and charged particles from the sun, strike the Earth’s magnetic field in the upper atmosphere. But then what happens? Scientists had a...
Physicists report definitive evidence how auroras are created
WebJun 7, 2021 · In a new study, a team of physicists led by University of Iowa reports definitive evidence that the most brilliant auroras are produced by powerful electromagnetic waves during geomagnetic storms.
Aurora - Wikipedia
WebThe term aurora borealis was coined by Galileo in 1619, from the Roman Aurora, goddess of the dawn and the Greek name for the north wind . The word aurora is derived from the name of the Roman goddess of the dawn, Aurora, who travelled from east to west announcing the coming of the Sun.
What causes an aurora, the northern or southern lights?
WebSep 8, 2022 · The aurora works on the same principle, but at a far vaster scale. When charged particles from the sun strike air molecules in Earth’s magnetic field, they cause those molecules’ atoms to ...
What Is an Aurora? | NASA Space Place – NASA Science for Kids
WebMay 6, 2024 · If you're ever near the North or South Pole, you may be in for a very special treat. Frequently there are beautiful light shows in the sky. These lights are called auroras. If you're near the North Pole, it is called an aurora borealis or northern lights.
What causes the Northern Lights? Aurora borealis explained
WebThe aurora's characteristic wavy patterns and 'curtains' of light are caused by the lines of force in the Earth’s magnetic field. The lowest part of an aurora is typically around 80 miles above the Earth's surface. However, the top of a display may extend several thousand miles above the Earth.
Explainer: How auroras light up the sky - Science News Explores
WebOct 8, 2021 · Space. Explainer: How auroras light up the sky. Showers of charged particles from space create the northern and southern lights. Colorful auroras ripple through the skies near Earth’s north and south poles. This 2016 photograph of the northern lights was taken by astronauts aboard the International Space Station. ESA/NASA. By Maria Temming.
What causes the different colours of the aurora? An expert …
Web5 days ago · The auroras are caused by charged subatomic particles (mostly electrons) smashing into Earth’s atmosphere. These are emitted from the Sun all the time, but there are more during times of greater ...
Aurora | Location & Facts | Britannica
Web5 days ago · aurora, luminous phenomenon of Earth ’s upper atmosphere that occurs primarily in high latitudes of both hemispheres; in the Northern Hemisphere auroras are called aurora borealis, aurora polaris, or northern lights, and in the Southern Hemisphere they are called aurora australis or southern lights. A brief treatment of auroras follows.
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