Chasing Aurora Lights

Aurora is a colorful plasma phenomenon that occurs when a stream of charged particles from the Sun enters the Earth's magnetic field.

It is a brilliant and beautiful light that appears at night in the high sky near the north and south poles of the Earth. The aurora is known as the Southern Lights in the South Pole and the Northern Lights at the North Pole.

Conditions for Aurora

Auroras often appear in the sky over areas whose latitude is close to the geomagnetic poles and generally appear in the shape of bands, arcs, curtains, and radials.

These shapes are sometimes stable and sometimes change continuously. There are three conditions for the generation of aurora: atmosphere, magnetic field, and high-energy charged particles.

Height of Aurora

Most auroras occur between 90-130 kilometers above the Earth. In 1959, the height measured by the Northern Lights was 160 kilometers, and the width was more than 4800 kilometers. But some auroras are much higher, reaching an altitude of more than 560-1000 kilometers.

Colors of Aurora

The content of nitrogen and oxygen in the atmosphere determines the color of the aurora, and the content of nitrogen and oxygen is closely related to the altitude. So far, more than six auroral colors have been confirmed.

From high to low according to altitude, they are red, yellow, pink, green, blue, and purple. The green aurora is the most common aurora you see. The auroras in northern Europe are also mostly green auroras.

Best Places to See the Northern Lights

In the Northern Hemisphere, the auroral regions are located in Scandinavia, Iceland, the southern tip of Greenland, northern Canada, and Alaska. Auroras are visible in the southern part of the area, but the farther you are from the auroral zone, the less likely they are to appear.

The auroral regions in the Southern Hemisphere are mainly located over Antarctica or the Southern Ocean. To see the Southern Lights, you have to go to Tasmania. Occasionally, an aurora can be seen in southern Argentina or the Falkland Islands, but that's rare.

Aurora History and Legends

Aurora has a long legend and history in human culture. Many ancient cultures have myths and legends about the aurora. In Norse mythology, for example, the aurora is believed to be the result of gods dancing in the sky.

Aurora and Scientific Research

In addition to being widely praised and appreciated, the aurora is also an important astronomical phenomenon. It is of great significance to the study of the Earth's atmosphere and space physics.

By observing the aurora, scientists can understand the interaction of the solar wind, the Earth's magnetic field, and the atmosphere. These observations also provide important data and information for exploring the universe.

Aurora is a beautiful and mysterious astronomical phenomenon. It is not only a natural wonder, but also an important object of scientific research. Its appearance not only makes us feel the power and beauty of nature but also allows us to better understand the mysteries of the Earth and the universe.