Aurorae (Northern Lights)

Beautiful ribbons of light caused by the interaction of high-energy particles in the solar wind and Earth's magnetic field. These are common in both extreme northern (aurora borealis or northern lights) and southern latitudes (aurora australis/southern lights), near Earth's magnetic poles.

Resources

 Frequently Asked Questions: Phenomena, Myths and Fallacies

Radio Programs

 Moon and Jupiter Powering up a distant aurora Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Uranus III Heating up a planet's atmosphere Thursday, June 3, 2010
Moon and Jupiter Lighting up alien skies Sunday, January 17, 2010
Superstorm! Part 3 The Sun delivers a message Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Superstorm! The Sun sets the night sky on fire Monday, August 31, 2009
Eerie Aurorae Lights and sounds from the edge of space Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Solar Wind Discovering the source of the solar wind Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Great Red Aurora Painting the night sky red Monday, February 11, 2008
Solar Storm Light and static from stormy skies Sunday, February 10, 2008

Featured Images

The glow of the aurora from the International Space Station
 Heavenly Lightshow Sunday, November 6, 2011
A solar eruption on June 7, 2011
 Big Splash Tuesday, June 7, 2011
False-color infrared view of Saturn and its aurora
 Colorful Aurora Tuesday, September 28, 2010
High Lights Sunday, January 17, 2010
Seeing Green Friday, February 15, 2008
Under the Southern Lights Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Seeing the Sights Thursday, March 2, 2006

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