The mesmerizing glow of the aurora borealis, or northern lights, is caused by energetic particles from the sun colliding with atoms in Earth's atmosphere.
These particles, primarily electrons and protons, are carried by the solar wind, a stream of charged particles constantly flowing from the sun.
When these solar wind particles reach Earth, they are guided by Earth's magnetic field towards the poles.
As they interact with atoms in the atmosphere, primarily oxygen and nitrogen, the particles transfer their energy to the atoms, causing them to become excited.
This excitation causes the atoms to release the absorbed energy in the form of light.
Different gases emit different colors of light. Oxygen emits green and red light, while nitrogen emits blue and purple light.
The aurora borealis appears as a vibrant display of these colors, often dancing and shifting across the sky.
The intensity and frequency of auroras vary depending on the strength of the solar wind and the activity of the sun.
Auroras are also seen in the southern hemisphere, known as the aurora australis.
