"Aurora: 'An aurora (PL: aurorae or auroras), also commonly known as the northern lights (aurora borealis) or southern lights (aurora australis), is a natural light display in Earth's sky, predominantly seen in high-latitude regions (around the Arctic and Antarctic).'"
The spectacular displays of light in the Earth's polar regions caused by charged particles from the Solar Wind interacting with the Earth's atmosphere.
Solar Wind: The continuous flow of charged particles from the Sun that interacts with the Earth's magnetic field.
Magnetosphere: The region surrounding the Earth where the magnetic field dominates and interacts with solar wind.
Van Allen Radiation Belts: Two donut-shaped regions of high-energy particles trapped by the Earth's magnetic field.
Geomagnetic Storms: Disturbances in the Earth's magnetic field caused by the solar wind that can cause auroras.
Ionosphere: The layer of the Earth's atmosphere that is ionized by solar radiation and interacts with the magnetosphere.
Solar Flares: Sudden bursts of energy from the Sun that can cause geomagnetic storms and auroras.
Coronal Mass Ejections: Massive ejections of plasma from the Sun that can cause geomagnetic storms and auroras.
Electron Precipitation: The process by which energetic electrons in the magnetosphere collide with the atmosphere, causing auroras.
Proton Precipitation: The process by which energetic protons in the magnetosphere collide with the atmosphere, causing auroras.
Aurora Borealis: The northern lights, a natural light display that occurs in the polar regions.
Aurora Australis: The southern lights, a natural light display that occurs in the polar regions.
Aurora Colors: The different colors of an aurora caused by the interaction of charged particles with different atmospheric gases.
Aurora Shapes: The different shapes of an aurora caused by the interaction of charged particles with the Earth's magnetic field.
Aurora Viewing: Tips and techniques for viewing auroras, including the best locations and times to see them.
Auroral Ovals: The oval-shaped regions around the magnetic poles where auroras are most commonly observed.
Space Weather: The conditions in space that can affect technology and infrastructure on Earth, including auroras.
Particle Acceleration: The mechanisms by which charged particles are accelerated in the magnetosphere, leading to auroras.
Magnetospheric Substorms: Short-lived disturbances in the magnetosphere that can intensify auroras.
Polar Cap Absorption: A phenomenon where portions of the ionosphere become opaque to radio waves due to auroral activity.
Cosmic Rays: High-energy particles from outside the solar system that can interact with the Earth's atmosphere and contribute to auroras.
Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights): It is a type of Aurora that occurs in the Northern Hemisphere, generated by solar wind particles that enter the Earth's magnetic field and collide with atoms and molecules in the Earth's atmosphere.
Aurora Australis (Southern Lights): It is a type of Aurora that occurs in the Southern Hemisphere, generated by solar wind particles that enter the Earth's magnetic field and collide with atoms and molecules in the Earth's atmosphere.
Proton auroras: Proton auroras are created by the interaction of highly energetic protons from the solar wind with the Earth's magnetic field. They are usually seen at high latitudes.
Electron auroras: Electron auroras are created by electrons from the solar wind colliding with the Earth's magnetic field. They are more common than proton auroras and can be seen at lower latitudes.
Diffuse aurora: Diffuse auroras are blanketing, hazy glows that can be seen over a large area. They can occur at any time and last for several hours.
Pulsating aurora: Pulsating auroras are characterized by a repeating pattern of brightening and fading that occurs over the course of several minutes. They are typically seen in the altitude range of 100-200 km.
Discrete aurora: Discrete auroras are bright, easily visible auroras that occur in localized regions of the Earth's magnetic field. They are often seen in the altitude range of 100-150 km.
Corona aurora: Corona auroras occur in the Earth's thermosphere, a region of the atmosphere that is more than 100 km above the Earth's surface. They are characterized by a diffuse, glowing appearance.
Substorm aurora: Substorm auroras are a type of aurora that occur during magnetic substorms, which are sudden, brief changes in the Earth's magnetic field. They are characterized by intense auroral activity that can be seen at lower latitudes than other types of auroras.
Steady aurora: Steady auroras are a type of aurora that occur during periods of prolonged solar activity. They are characterized by a steady, glowing appearance that is visible for several hours.
"Aurora: 'in high-latitude regions (around the Arctic and Antarctic).'"
"Aurora: 'Auroras display dynamic patterns of brilliant lights that appear as curtains, rays, spirals, or dynamic flickers covering the entire sky.'"
"Aurora: 'Auroras are the result of disturbances in the magnetosphere caused by the solar wind.'"
"Aurora: 'Major disturbances result from enhancements in the speed of the solar wind from coronal holes and coronal mass ejections.'"
"Aurora: 'These particles, mainly electrons and protons, precipitate into the upper atmosphere (thermosphere/exosphere).'"
"Aurora: 'The resulting ionization and excitation of atmospheric constituents emit light of varying colour and complexity.'"
"Aurora: 'The form of the aurora, occurring within bands around both polar regions, is also dependent on the amount of acceleration imparted to the precipitating particles.'"
"Aurora: 'Most of the planets in the Solar System, some natural satellites, brown dwarfs, and even comets also host auroras.'"
"Aurora: 'also commonly known as the northern lights (aurora borealis).'"
"Aurora: 'also commonly known as the southern lights (aurora australis).'"
"Aurora: Auroras are a 'natural light display in Earth's sky.'"
"Aurora: 'The resulting ionization and excitation of atmospheric constituents emit light of varying colour and complexity.'"
"Aurora: 'Major disturbances result from enhancements in the speed of the solar wind from coronal holes and coronal mass ejections.'"
"Aurora: 'high-latitude regions (around the Arctic and Antarctic).'"
"Aurora: 'brilliant lights that appear as curtains, rays, spirals, or dynamic flickers covering the entire sky.'"
"Aurora: 'Most of the planets in the Solar System, some natural satellites, brown dwarfs, and even comets also host auroras.'"
"Aurora: 'disturbances in the magnetosphere caused by the solar wind.'"
"Aurora: 'These particles, mainly electrons and protons...'"
"Aurora: 'the amount of acceleration imparted to the precipitating particles.'"