What Is Aurora?
Glowing curtains of green, red, or purple light in the night sky near the poles, caused by particles from the Sun hitting our upper atmosphere. In technical terms: Emission from atmospheric atoms and molecules, mainly atomic oxygen (557.7 nm green, 630.0 nm red) and molecular nitrogen, excited by energetic electrons precipitating along geomagnetic field lines, typically at 100-300 km altitude within the auroral oval; expands equatorward during geomagnetic storms.
Also called: Aurora Borealis, Aurora Australis, Northern Lights, Southern Lights
Aurora In Plain English
Glowing curtains of green, red, or purple light in the night sky near the poles, caused by particles from the Sun hitting our upper atmosphere.
The Technical Definition
Emission from atmospheric atoms and molecules, mainly atomic oxygen (557.7 nm green, 630.0 nm red) and molecular nitrogen, excited by energetic electrons precipitating along geomagnetic field lines, typically at 100-300 km altitude within the auroral oval; expands equatorward during geomagnetic storms.
Lessons That Use Aurora
- Geomagnetic Storms, The Kp Index And The Aurora Unit 15: Space Weather
