What Causes the ‘Northern Lights’ and Why Are They So Vivid?

The Northern Lights are like a fireworks show in the sky! When particles from the sun hit Earth's atmosphere, they make the air glow. The colors depend on which gas is glowing, green is from oxygen, and red or purple can come from nitrogen. It’s magic up there!

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Examples

A child sees green lights swirling across the sky like a magical curtain.
A person notices red lights above the mountains at night, as if the sky is on fire.
The lights are so bright they look like they're right on top of you.

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Categories: Space · Northern Lights,Aurora Borealis,Solar Wind