What Causes the ‘Northern Lights’ and How Are They Different From Auroras Elsewhere?

The Northern Lights happen when particles from the sun crash into Earth's atmosphere. Imagine tiny balls of energy zooming through space like a game of tag, and when they hit our sky, they make it light up with pretty colors! But why are they special? Well, in places like the North Pole, there’s more magic going on, that’s why we call them the Northern Lights, and they look different from other auroras elsewhere.