Northern Lights

also called the Aurora Borealis, are a natural light display in the night sky, mostly seen in high-latitude regions near the Arctic.

They happen when charged particles from the Sun (solar wind) collide with gases in Earth’s atmosphere. These collisions release energy as light, creating those glowing waves and curtains in the sky.

Why are they different colors?

Green – the most common (oxygen at lower altitudes)

Red – oxygen higher up

Purple/blue – nitrogen

They’re most visible in places close to the Arctic Circle, like:

Canada

Norway

Iceland

Alaska

There’s a southern version too, called the Aurora Australis, visible near Antarctica.