The protective magnetic field around Earth shields us from most of the energy and particles, and we don't even notice them. But the Sun doesn't send the same amount of energy all the time. There is a constant streaming solar wind and there are also solar storms.
During one kind of solar storm called a coronal mass ejection , the Sun burps out a huge bubble of electrified gas that can travel through space at high speeds. When a solar storm comes toward us, some of the energy and small particles can travel down the magnetic field lines at the north and south poles into Earth's atmosphere.
There, the particles interact with gases in our atmosphere resulting in beautiful displays of light in the sky. Oxygen gives off green and red light.
Within the zone, it's best to be as far away from city lights as possible to maximize visibility. But it's pretty tricky to get into the middle of the Arctic wilderness, even with a guide, so it's best to base yourself in a destination with solid infrastructure, like Fairbanks, Alaska; Yellowknife, Canada; Svalbard, Norway; Abisko National Park, in Sweden; Rovaniemi, Finland; and pretty much anywhere in Iceland. Related: Where to see the northern lights: aurora borealis guide.
The best time of year to see the northern lights is between September and April, when the sky gets dark enough to see the aurora. Northern locales experience the midnight sun, or 24 hours of daylight in the summer. The most action usually happens between 9 p.
Keep the moon phases in mind, as a bright full moon might fill the night sky with light. Check local weather forecasts as well, because you won't be able to spot the aurora through the clouds. Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more!
And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community space. With a background in travel and design journalism, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree from New York University, she specializes in the budding space tourism industry and Earth-based astrotourism. In her free time, you can find her watching rocket launches or looking up at the stars, wondering what is out there. During one kind of solar storm called a coronal mass ejection, the sun burps out a huge bubble of electrified gas that can travel through space at high speeds.
There, the particles interact with gases in our atmosphere resulting in beautiful displays of light in the sky. Oxygen gives off green and red light. Nitrogen glows blue and purple.
The two large bodies here may be the Earth and Sun or the Earth and Moon. Description: A lagrangian point is also known as a Lagrange point, Liberation point, or L-point. These points are loc. Choose your reason below and click on the Report button. This will alert our moderators to take action. Nifty 18, Zomato Ltd. Market Watch. ET NOW. Brand Solutions. Video series featuring innovators. ET Financial Inclusion Summit. Malaria Mukt Bharat. Wealth Wise Series How they can help in wealth creation.
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