What Is an Aurora?

Summary

An aurora is a stunning light display visible in the sky, particularly near the Earth’s poles. The northern version is called aurora borealis, while the southern is aurora australis. Auroras are caused by solar winds, which are streams of electrified particles from the Sun interacting with Earth’s magnetic field. During solar storms, more intense bursts of particles create these displays. When these particles collide with gases like oxygen and nitrogen in Earth’s atmosphere, they produce colors like green, red, blue, and purple. Auroras also occur on other planets with magnetic fields, such as Jupiter and Saturn.

Takeaways

• 🌌 An aurora is a beautiful display of lights in the sky, often seen in places like Alaska.
• 🛰️ Auroras can also be observed from space, such as from the International Space Station.
• 🌍 The name of an aurora depends on its location: aurora borealis in the northern hemisphere and aurora australis in the southern hemisphere.
• ☀️ Auroras are caused by the Sun, specifically by the energy and electrified particles it sends to Earth.
• 🌬️ The solar wind, made up of energy and small particles from the Sun, interacts with Earth's magnetic field.
• 🌞 During solar storms, the Sun can release more energy and particles than usual, leading to stronger auroras.
• 💥 A coronal mass ejection is a type of solar storm where the Sun releases a massive bubble of gas.
• 🌌 Auroras occur when particles from the Sun interact with Earth's atmosphere, especially near the poles.
• 💡 Different gases in Earth's atmosphere produce different colors: oxygen creates green and red, nitrogen creates blue and purple.
• 🪐 Other planets with atmospheres and magnetic fields, like Jupiter and Saturn, also have auroras.

Q & A

What is an aurora?

An aurora is a beautiful display of lights in the sky, typically seen near the poles of the Earth.

What is the difference between aurora borealis and aurora australis?

Aurora borealis occurs in the northern hemisphere and is also called the northern lights, while aurora australis occurs in the southern hemisphere and is known as the southern lights.

What causes auroras to appear in the sky?

Auroras are caused by the interaction between Earth's magnetic field and particles from the Sun, particularly during solar storms.

What role does the Sun play in creating auroras?

The Sun constantly emits solar wind, which includes heat, light, and electrified particles. These particles interact with Earth's magnetic field to create auroras.

What is the solar wind?

The solar wind is a stream of energy and small electrified particles released by the Sun.

What happens during a solar storm?

During a solar storm, the Sun releases a large amount of energy and particles. In the case of a coronal mass ejection, a bubble of gas and particles is sent into space.

How do solar storms affect Earth’s magnetic field?

Solar storms interact with Earth's magnetic field, causing particles to dive into the atmosphere near the poles, leading to the formation of auroras.

What colors of light are produced by auroras, and what causes them?

Auroras produce green and red light when particles interact with oxygen, and blue and purple light when they interact with nitrogen in Earth’s atmosphere.

Can other planets have auroras?

Yes, if a planet has both an atmosphere and a magnetic field, it can have auroras. For example, Jupiter and Saturn have auroras.

Where can one learn more about auroras and the solar system?

You can learn more about auroras and the solar system at NASA Space Place.