What are the auroras and what causes them?

What are the auroras and what causes them?

An aurora is a colorful light show in the sky caused by the Sun. Auroras happen when particles from the Sun interact with gases in our atmosphere, causing beautiful displays of light in the sky. Auroras are often seen in areas near the North Pole or South Pole.

Why do the northern lights only happen in the North?

The reason that the Aurora can only be seen at the poles has to do with how the Earth’s magnetic field acts. The Earth has a metal core and acts much like a bar magnet with two poles and a magnetic field. Remember those charged particles that come from the sun and hit the atmosphere?

How does aurora borealis and australis formed?

They are ionized or excited by the collision of solar wind and magnetospheric particles (such as high energy protons and electrons) funneling down and accelerating along the Earth’s magnetic field lines. The excited particles’ energy is lost by the emitting photon or colliding with another atom or molecule.

What causes aurora borealis on Earth?

When the solar wind gets past the magnetic field and travels towards the Earth, it runs into the atmosphere. As the protons and electrons from the solar wind hit the particles in the Earth’s atmosphere, they release energy – and this is what causes the northern lights.

How often do auroras occur?

“Active periods are typically about 30 minutes long, and occur every two hours, if the activity is high. The aurora is a sporadic phenomenon, occurring randomly for short periods or perhaps not at all.”

Where do auroras occur most often?

magnetic north pole

How fast do the Northern Lights move?

around seven million miles per hour

Why shouldn’t you whistle at the Northern Lights?

Don’t whistle at the Northern Lights Alerted to your presence, the spirits of the lights will come down and take you away. Having said that, North American Indians often whistled at the Northern Lights to encourage them to come closer so they could whisper messages that would then be taken to the dead.

Do auroras move?

The Northern Lights Appear to Move in Rhythm With Earth’s Magnetic Field. NASA researchers have found evidence that suggests that aurorae – better known as the northern or southern lights – move in response to changes in Earth’s magnetic field.

How old is the aurora borealis?

Some of the drawings made by Cro-Magnon people on the walls and ceilings of caves in Southern France probably depict the northern lights. These rock paintings could be the very first recordings of the northern lights in the history of mankind – they can be dated back to 30,000 years before our time.

Can you touch aurora borealis?

Secondly, the aurora are essentially photon emissions from nitrogen and oxygen molecules, so you can’t really touch it (as much as you can ‘touch’ a sunbeam). Even the gas that emits the photons is extremely tenuous.

Who founded the Northern Lights?

Galileo Galilei

When was the first Northern Lights seen?

2600 B.C.

Did Galileo name the Northern Lights?

In the early 17th century, the astronomer and scientist Galileo Galilei named this phenomenon the Aurora Borealis.

How did the Northern Lights get its name?

As early as 1616, the astronomer Galileo Galilei used the name aurora borealis to describe them, taking the name of the mythical Roman goddess of the dawn, Aurora, and the Greek name for wind of the north, Boreas.

Where did the name Aurora come from?

Origin: The name Aurora is of Latin origin and it is used in the Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, English, Romanian, and Finnish languages. Gender: Aurora is historically a feminine noun, having personified an ancient Roman goddess. It is a feminine noun in Latin.

How do you pronounce borealis?

Here are 4 tips that should help you perfect your pronunciation of ‘aurora borealis’: Break ‘aurora borealis’ down into sounds: [UH] + [RAW] + [RUH] + [BAW] + [REE] + [AY] + [LIS] – say it out loud and exaggerate the sounds until you can consistently produce them.

Where is the best place to see the northern lights?

What are the best places to see the Northern Lights?

1. Tromso, Norway. Based in the heart of the aurora zone in the Norwegian Arctic, the city is widely regarded as one of the world’s best places to see the Northern Lights.
2. Swedish Lapland.
3. Reykjavik, Iceland.
4. Yukon, Canada.
5. Rovaniemi, Finnish Lapland.
6. Ilulissat, Greenland.

Why is Norway famous?

Norway is known as the Land of the Midnight Sun. It is famous for its phenomenal fjords, lakes and magical skies. Norway is also famous for its languages, Vikings and folklore, being eco-friendly, and oil production.

Is Norway expensive to visit?

Norway is also known as one of the most expensive countries in Europe. Accommodation, food, and transportation can all be quite pricey. Whether you’re in the city or countryside, you can expect to spend a good amount on travel, but there are a few tips that can help you save some money.