Auroras


Auroras, also known as polar lights, are natural light displays in the Earth's sky, predominantly seen in high-latitude regions (around the Arctic and Antarctic). They are caused by the interaction between the solar wind and the Earth's magnetic field. The solar wind is a stream of charged particles that flows out from the Sun and interacts with the Earth's magnetic field, which is generated by the motion of molten iron in the Earth's core. When the charged particles from the solar wind collide with the Earth's magnetic field, they are deflected towards the poles, where they collide with atoms and molecules in the Earth's upper atmosphere. These collisions cause the atoms and molecules to become excited and emit light, creating the auroras.


Your Previous Searches
Random Picks

  • Thermocapillary Convection: Thermocapillary convection is a fluid flow phenomenon that occurs in microgravity environments, where surface tension gradients induced by temperature differences drive the motion of the fluid. This type of convection is particularly releva ... Read More >>
  • Pixel: In space and astronautical engineering, a pixel refers to the smallest unit of an image that can be displayed or transmitted. In space applications, pixels are used to capture and transmit images of celestial bodies, spacecraft, and other o ... Read More >>
  • Dwarf Planets: Dwarf planets are celestial bodies that orbit the sun and have enough mass to form a nearly round shape, but have not cleared their orbit of other debris. They are considered too small to be classified as full-fledged planets, but are large ... Read More >>
Top News

Was Bruce Willis right? Could a nuclear blast save us from killer asteroid?...

Scientists simulated a nuclear explosion using x-ray pulses to push an asteroid-like rock away in space-like conditions....

News Source: Al Jazeera English on 2024-10-04

China's answer to SpaceX's Starlink is also threatening astronomy...

The first 18 satellites of a planned Chinese mega constellation are brighter than all but 500 stars in the sky, raising fears of a huge impact on astronomy...

News Source: New Scientist on 2024-10-03

New Scientist recommends astronomy exhibition Borrowed Light in Berlin...

The books, TV, games and more that New Scientist staff have enjoyed this week...

News Source: New Scientist on 2024-10-02

Astronomers spot the most massive black hole jets ever observed...

Astronomers have spotted a massive pair of jets releasing material from a distant black hole. The jets are so large they span about 140 Milky Way galaxies in length....

News Source: CNN on 2024-09-25

'How did we get here?' NASA hopes 'artificial star' can teach us more about the ...

In a $19.5 million NASA-funded mission, a team at George Mason University is heading a project to construct and launch a small satellite into orbit....

News Source: USA Today on 2024-09-22