The aurora borealis is like a light show on the sky. When tiny particles from the sun hit Earth's atmosphere, they make colors appear! Green comes from oxygen high up in the air, and red or purple come from nitrogen lower down. It’s kind of like when you mix paint, each color has its own special place in this sky dance.
Examples
- Sometimes you see purple lights, that means nitrogen molecules are lighting up below the other colors.
- If the sky looks red and dancing, that's deeper oxygen giving off its special glow.
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See also
- What Causes the Northern Lights and How Are They Different from Auroras in Other Parts of the World?
- What Causes the ‘Ring of Fire’ Eclipse and How Is It Different from a Total Eclipse?
- How Did the Moon Form and Why Does It Affect Earth?
- How Did the First Stars Shape the Early Universe?
- How Do Astronauts ‘Feel’ in Space?
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