What natural phenomenon is also known as the Northern Lights?

The natural phenomenon known as the Northern Lights is the aurora borealis, a glowing display produced high in Earth’s atmosphere. It occurs when charged particles from the Sun interact with gases in the upper atmosphere near the planet’s magnetic poles. The Southern Lights are the corresponding phenomenon in Antarctica and are called the aurora australis.

During solar activity, the Sun releases streams of charged particles known as the solar wind. Earth’s magnetic field guides many of these particles toward the polar regions, where collisions with oxygen and nitrogen release energy as colored light. Oxygen can produce green and red tones, while nitrogen contributes blue and violet hues. The exact colors depend on the gas involved and the altitude of the collision.

Auroras are most frequently visible at high latitudes, including parts of Norway, Iceland, Canada, Alaska, and northern Russia, but powerful solar storms can push them farther toward the equator. They are not the same as solar flares: flares occur on the Sun, while auroras are atmospheric light displays on Earth. The word “aurora” comes from the Roman goddess of dawn.