Imagine this: you are standing under a dark sky, far away from city lights, and suddenly a dance of colors appears on the horizon. Green veils, interspersed with shades of pink, purple, and sometimes even red, gracefully move through the air. This magical phenomenon is known as the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis. It is a natural spectacle that has fascinated people for centuries, evoking a sense of awe for the forces of the universe.
The Northern Lights occur when charged particles from the sun enter Earth’s atmosphere. These particles, mainly electrons and protons, are guided by Earth’s magnetic field toward the poles. There, they collide with oxygen and nitrogen molecules in the upper atmosphere. These molecules become excited – they temporarily gain extra energy. When the molecules return to their original state, they release this energy as light. The result is the colorful display we call the Northern Lights.