Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis

The Southern Lights (Aurora Austrialis) are a sky phenomena, multi-colored shimmering lights, associated with the acceleration of charged particles above the South Magnetic Pole.

(see the related question)

Aurora Australis can be seen in the Southern Hemisphere, typically near the South Pole. Popular viewing locations include parts of Antarctica, New Zealand, Tasmania, and southern regions of Australia and South America.

The Aurora Australis in the southern hemisphere, (and Aurora Borealis in the northern hemisphere) are magnificent displays of coloured light. They result from collisions between electrically charged gaseous particles in the Earth's atmosphere with charged particles from the sun that enter the atmosphere. Sunspot activity causes electrons and protons from the sun to be blown towards the earth on the solar wind.

The different colours are caused by the different types of gas particles. The reason they occur more at the poles is that earth's magnetic field, which usually deflects the particles, is weaker there, allowing the particles to enter. Some particles are attracted by the magnetic poles due to the electromagnetic behaviour of charged particles, which causes the particles to be led down the lines of magnetic flux until they hit the atmosphere.

yes I saw the Northern Lights in Yuma Arizona in 2006

Aurora are generated when magnetic storms from the sun hit the earth's atmosphere and interact with it.

Both polar regions experience aurora: Aurora Australis occurs in the Southern Hemisphere, and Aurora Borealis occurs in the Northern Hemisphere.

You must be well north of Fairbanks and clear of any ambient ligting to get the Clear Picture. At least 15 miles outside of Barrow will give you the best visuals.

Sometimes. However, the best places to see the Aurora Borealis (the "northern lights") is in Finland and northern Scandinavia. Northern Canada is good, too, but fewer people live that far north in Canada.

The website spaceweather.com is one of the best sources for photos of and information about the northern lights.

In The Night Sky, During The Darkest Hours Of Nighttime

An Aurora Australis or an Aurora Borealis occurs when streams of particles from the sun's solar winds hit the earth's atmosphere at an angle (as can only happen at the poles). These particles interact with the edges of the earth's magnetic field and when they collide with the gases in the ionosphere, the particles glow creating curtains of blue, green and magenta. An aurora is sometimes accompanied by a crackling sound.

They have been visible during recent times (late January 2012) due to high solar activity. Any time there is high solar activity, there are better chances of seeing them.

Almost all of them.

Im from Colorado and no northern lights appear in Colorado, trust me, im pretty sure.

Improvement 15 July 2010 - On rare occasion, the sun has released energy (not sure what it is called officially) that has made the northern lights viable as far south as San Diego. I believe it has happened twice in the last 10 years. Also, some nights you can see something that looks similar to the northern lights, but it's just how the light travels through the pollution in the air.

Aurora Borealis also called the Northern Lights.

An Aurora Australis or an Aurora Borealis occurs when streams of particles from the sun's solar winds hit the earth's atmosphere at an angle (as can only happen at the poles). These particles interact with the edges of the earth's magnetic field and when they collide with the gases in the ionosphere, the particles glow creating curtains of blue, green and magenta. An aurora is sometimes accompanied by a crackling sound.

You can see them from England. They are better seen the closer you are to the north pole area, but if it is a good display and it is clear you can see them from England.

I have the feeling you want to know this because of the Japan earthquake, am I correct?

Im from Finland and we have been taught that they occur only above the arctic circle, and still they are quite rare. I can't be sure though, I dont know what to believe any more...

Yes. Quite rare but I saw them once from Liverpool. It wasn't much to see, a faint glow across the sky. You're far more likely to see them further north. Try Scotland.

No. Charged particles come closest to Earth at the poles. This is because the Earth's magnetosphere has magnetic field lines that are generated from and reenter the poles. As such, the area near the equator is most protected by the magnetosphere, as it extends outward from the poles, surrounding the Earth. And the magnetosphere is weakest at the points of intersection at the poles. When charged particles are deflected by the magnetosphere, they follow these magnetic field lines, and reenter our atmosphere at the poles. High-energy radiation generated by these charged particles interacting with gases in the atmosphere is the reason for the auroras (Northern and Southern lights). This is why, subsequent to a solar flare that sends a strong wind of particles toward the Earth, you are likely to see more intense auroras.

Because of the nature of fusion (which makes the sun what it is, as an active star), the most common particles composing the solar wind are: neutrinos (neutral particles, very small masses), electrons (negatively charged, often easily deflected by the magnetosphere), and protons (positively charged, the largest danger to us from the solar wind, because they counter the charge of the magnetosphere and reenter our atmosphere most easily).

auroras are the northern lights, and that is a very important event in Alaska

The Northern lights were visible for a short time in Maryland in October of 2001 due to a solar flare. The Northern lights are most visible the further north one goes. Video is available for a vantage view.