What Is the Science Behind the Aurora Borealis?

The northern lights happen when particles from the sun hit Earth's atmosphere. These particles are like tiny travelers that come all the way from the sun and zoom into our sky, making it light up in colorful patterns. It’s kind of like when you spray paint with different colors, they mix together to make beautiful lights.

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Examples

  1. Imagine it's like a fireworks show happening in the sky, only instead of people lighting them off, particles from the sun do the trick.
  2. It’s kind of like when you rub your hands together on a cold day, the friction makes you warm, and the aurora is like that warmth in the sky.
  3. Think about how you see colors when you shine a flashlight through colored glass, the northern lights are like that but with particles from space.

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