Northern and Southern Lights
Auroras are the Sun’s wind made visible: particles from the Sun make the air itself glow, high above the ground.
What’s going on
The Sun constantly streams charged particles into space. Earth’s magnetic field steers some of them toward the polar regions, where they strike the thin upper air and make it glow. Oxygen gives green light about 100 to 200 kilometres up and red light higher still; nitrogen adds blue and pink lower down. Auroras are strongest around solar maximum, the busy peak of the Sun’s roughly 11-year cycle.
Myth
Auroras are sunlight reflecting off polar ice.
Fact
The light comes from the air itself, glowing where particles from the Sun strike it.
Learn more
NASA Science, “NASA’s Guide to Finding and Photographing Auroras”; NASA Science, aurora colours explainer.
Look up tonight
Auroras are easiest to see far from city lights at high latitudes. A space-weather aurora forecast tells you when a strong display is likely.
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