The Northern Lights occur when charged particles from the sun collide with gases in Earth's atmosphere, creating dazzling displays of color.
The Northern Lights occur when charged particles from the sun collide with gases in Earth's atmosphere, creating dazzling displays of color.
Auroras are best seen near the Arctic Circle, in countries like Norway, Iceland, Finland, and Canada.
Green auroras come from oxygen molecules about 100km up, while rarer purple and red hues come from nitrogen.
The best viewing season runs from September to March, when nights are longest and darkest.
The Southern Hemisphere has its own version, the Aurora Australis, seen from Antarctica, New Zealand, and southern Australia.
Strong solar storms can push the aurora much farther from the poles, sometimes visible as far south as the Mediterranean.
Auroras occur roughly 100 to 300 km above Earth's surface, in the same layer where the International Space Station orbits.
Scientists, including NASA, study auroras closely since they reveal how solar activity affects satellites, power grids, and GPS systems.
Ancient cultures had their own explanations, from Norse fire bridges to Finnish "fire foxes" sweeping snow into the sky with their tails.