The Aurora Borealis occurs when charged particles from the Sun collide with gases in Earth’s atmosphere. This creates a spectacular light show through the following process:
- Solar wind carries charged particles toward Earth
- Earth’s magnetic field guides these particles toward the poles
- Particles collide with atmospheric gases, causing them to glow
- Different gases produce different colors (oxygen creates green and red, nitrogen produces blue and purple)
The intensity and visibility of auroras depend on solar activity and your location on Earth. They’re typically visible in a region called the ‘aurora zone’ which lies 60-75 degrees north latitude, but strong solar storms can make them visible at lower latitudes.