Spectacular Northern Lights Dance Across Skies After 2-Decade Solar Storm High

The Northern Lights, or aurora borealis, are caused by the interaction between charged particles from the sun and the Earth’s atmosphere. When these particles, mainly electrons and protons, are ejected from the sun during solar flares or coronal mass ejections, they travel towards the Earth. As they enter the Earth’s magnetic field, they are directed towards the polar regions. When these charged particles collide with gases in the Earth’s atmosphere, such as oxygen and nitrogen, they emit light, creating the beautiful displays known as the Northern Lights.

The Northern Lights are typically visible in high-latitude regions near the Arctic Circle, such as Alaska, Canada, Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Finland), Iceland, and Russia. The Southern Hemisphere has its counterpart, the aurora australis, visible from high-latitude regions near the Antarctic Circle. The best viewing conditions include dark, clear nights away from light pollution, preferably during the winter months when the nights are longer.

The colors of the Northern Lights depend on the type of gas particles colliding with the charged particles from the sun. Oxygen molecules typically produce green and red colors, while nitrogen molecules can produce purple, blue, and pink hues. The specific colors you might see also depend on the altitude at which the collisions occur. Green is the most common color observed, followed by pink, red, violet, and blue. The colors can vary in intensity and may change rapidly during an aurora display.