The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, captivate with their vibrant colors and mesmerizing movements.
The Northern Lights occur when charged particles from the sun collide with Earth's atmosphere. This interaction releases energy, creating stunning light displays.
Solar flares and coronal mass ejections send particles hurtling towards Earth. When these particles reach our planet, they trigger the Northern Lights.
The Earth's magnetic field directs these solar particles towards the poles. This is why the best Northern Lights displays are seen in polar regions.
The colors of the Northern Lights depend on the type of gas particles in the atmosphere. Oxygen produces green and red lights, while nitrogen creates blue and purple hues.
During geomagnetic storms, the Northern Lights become more intense and can be seen at lower latitudes. These storms are caused by solar activity.
The phenomenon isn't exclusive to Earth. Other planets with magnetic fields and atmospheres, like Jupiter and Saturn, also experience auroras.