What causes the Northern Lights?

The northern lights, also known as auroras, are caused by the interaction between charged particles from the sun and the Earth’s magnetic field. When these charged particles, primarily electrons and protons, are released by the sun during solar flares or coronal mass ejections, they are directed towards the Earth by the solar wind. As these charged particles enter the Earth’s atmosphere, they collide with gas molecules, such as oxygen and nitrogen. These collisions excite the gas molecules, causing them to emit light of various colors, creating the spectacular displays known as the northern lights. The colors produced depend on the type of gas molecules involved and the altitude at which the collisions occur. In the Northern Hemisphere, they are called aurora borealis, while in the Southern Hemisphere, they are known as aurora australis.