Auroras

In Context

  • A stunning aurora glow was recently observed above Iceland after a ‘dead’ sunspot erupted.

Auroras on Earth

  • An Aurora is a display of light in the sky predominantly seen in the high latitude regions (Arctic and Antarctic). It is also known as a Polar light.
  • Caused when solar wind (charged particles ejected from Sun’s surface) enters Earth’s atmosphere & interacts with different gases causing a display of light, called aurora.
    • Earth’s geomagnetic field shields humans from these harmful particles.
  • At Earth’s high latitude regions (auroral oval), particles continuously stream down causing polar light, active all year round.
  • While usually a milky greenish colour, auroras can also show red, blue, violet, pink, and white. These colours appear in a variety of continuously changing shapes.
  • North Pole: Aurora Borealis/Northern Lights & are visible from the US (Alaska), Canada, Iceland, Greenland, Norway, Sweden & Finland.
  • South Pole: Aurora Australis/Southern Lights & are visible from Antarctica, Chile, Argentina, New Zealand & Australia.

Do other Plants have Auroras?

  • Auroras are not just something that happens on Earth. If a planet has an atmosphere and magnetic field, they probably have auroras.
  • Recently, the Hope spacecraft has captured images of discrete auroras on Mars.

Source: LiveScience

 
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