What Causes the Colors of Auroras?

Auroras are like fireworks in the sky, but instead of gunpowder, they use space and air. When particles from the Sun zoom through our atmosphere, they bump into air molecules, causing them to glow, just like when you light up a firefly in the dark.

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Examples

Imagine it's night time, and fireflies are flying in the sky, some glow green, others purple, creating a colorful show.
It’s like when you mix different colored flashlights and shine them on the ceiling, each light has its own color, making a beautiful pattern.
If your room had glowing jellyfish floating around, they might flicker blue or pink depending on what kind of light they're using.

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Categories: Space · Aurora· Solar Wind· Atmosphere· Space Weather· Light Phenomenon