Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis

The aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, is caused by the interaction between charged particles from the solar wind and the Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere. These particles collide with gases in the thermosphere, such as oxygen and nitrogen, causing them to emit light in various colors. The resulting displays of shimmering, dynamic lights are most commonly observed in polar regions.

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Northern Lights

Occasionally the northern lights will be visible as far south as Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, and Virginia - but only during the most intense solar activity. The only states other than Alask that get the Northern Lights with any significant frequency are the northern parts of North Dakota, Minnesota, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and even there they are uncommon.

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The aurora borealis (northern lights) form when charged particles emitted from the sun during a solar flare penetrate the earth's magnetic shield and collide with atoms and molecules in our atmosphere. These collisions result in countless little bursts of light, called photons, which make up the aurora.

Two common names for auroras are the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, which occur in the Northern Hemisphere, and the Aurora Australis, or Southern Lights, found in the Southern Hemisphere. These natural light displays are caused by the interaction of solar wind with the Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere.

''Aurora'' means Dawn and ''Borealis'' means North. So basically Aurora borealis means ''Dawn of north''.

Yes, northern lights, or auroras, can appear white under certain conditions. While they are typically seen in colors like green, pink, red, and purple, a bright display can sometimes look white due to the intensity of the light or when the colors blend together. Additionally, the perception of color can be influenced by the viewer's location, atmospheric conditions, and the sensitivity of the observer's eyes.

The northern lights, or aurora borealis, are caused by the interaction between charged particles from the sun and the Earth's magnetic field. When these charged particles collide with gases in the Earth's atmosphere, they emit light, creating the beautiful display of colors in the sky.

Aurora activity is greatest near the Earth's poles, particularly within the Auroral Oval which encircles the magnetic poles. This means that places like Scandinavia, Iceland, Canada, Alaska, and Antarctica often experience more intense and frequent displays of the Northern and Southern Lights.

Aurora Borealis or the Northern Lights occur when solar activity ejects a cloud of gas. When the cloud of gas hits Earth's magnetic field, it causes complex changes to the magnetic field, These changes generate currents of charged particles, which then flow along lines of magnetic force into the Polar Regions. These particles are boosted in energy in Earth's upper atmosphere, and when they collide with oxygen and nitrogen atoms, they produce dazzling auroral light.

The chances of seeing an aurora in your backyard depend on your location. Places closer to the North and South poles have a higher likelihood of experiencing auroras. Additionally, factors like solar activity and clear skies play a role in visibility.

No, the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, is not bad. It is a natural light display that occurs in the Earth's atmosphere, typically near the polar regions, and is a stunning phenomenon caused by the interaction of solar particles with the Earth's magnetic field.

Northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, occur in countries located near the Arctic Circle such as Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Canada, and Russia. These phenomena are caused by the interaction between solar winds and the Earth's magnetic field.

The aurora borealis is typically not visible from Seattle, Washington, as it is too far south. To see the aurora borealis, you would need to travel to locations closer to the magnetic poles, such as Alaska or northern Canada.

They happen near the Earth's magnetic poles, in the north and in the south. There is a gas cloud that is expelled from the sun,which takes about 3days to reach earth. This cloud collides with Earth's magnetic field(north&south pole) which causes a chain reaction of energy among the particles in the gas cloud. The energy charges these particles,creating light shows.

The colors in the northern lights or aurora borealis typically range from green to pink, with occasional appearances of red, yellow, blue, and purple. The specific colors visible depend on the type of gases in the Earth's atmosphere reacting with charged particles from the sun.

Aurora Australis, also known as the Southern Lights, is a display of colorful lights in the sky near the South Pole. This natural phenomenon is caused by the interaction between charged particles from the sun and the Earth's magnetic field. The lights can appear as shimmering curtains or swirling patterns in the night sky.

Auroras are typically seen near the Earth's polar regions, closer to the North and South Poles. In the Northern Hemisphere, they are called the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights, while in the Southern Hemisphere, they are known as the Aurora Australis or Southern Lights. These natural light displays occur when charged particles from the sun interact with the Earth's atmosphere.

The Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, occurs in the thermosphere, which is the layer of the Earth's atmosphere located between the mesosphere and exosphere. It is caused by the interaction of solar particles with the gases in the thermosphere.

It's somewhat rare to see that far south, but not impossible. As the sunspot cycle starts to ramp up towards the max in 2012 you can expect a better than normal chance of seeing auroras just about anywhere in PA. Even still, the auroras likely to be seen in PA aren't going to be the impressive displays you can see further north in Canada and Alaska. Probably what you'll see in most cases is a bit of hazy color along the northern horizon, best veiwed in winter, when it won't be mistaken for summer haze.

Goto www.spaceweather.com to see when auroras are likely happening in Pennsylvania or anywhere in the world!