Aurora Borealis Facts for Kids
Magical lights that dance across the night sky near the North Pole.
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Aurora Borealis Facts for Kids
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About this topic
The Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, occurs when charged particles from the Sun interact with gases in Earth's atmosphere, creating spectacular curtains of green, purple, and pink light.
Quick Facts
Key Points
Auroras are caused by charged particles from the Sun hitting Earth's atmosphere
Green light comes from oxygen at lower altitudes
Purple and red come from nitrogen and high-altitude oxygen
The Southern Hemisphere has Aurora Australis
Ancient cultures thought they were spirits dancing in the sky
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☀️ What causes the lights?
The Sun constantly sends out charged particles called solar wind. When they reach Earth, our magnetic field funnels them toward the poles where they collide with atmospheric gases, making them glow.
Go deeper🎨 The colours
Different gases create different colours. Oxygen produces green and red, while nitrogen creates blue and purple. The altitude of the collision also affects the colour.
Go deeper🗺️ Where to see them
The best places include Norway, Iceland, Canada, and Alaska. They're most visible during winter months when nights are longest. Strong solar storms can make them visible much further south.
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