Aurora

A display of colored light in the atmosphere, caused by collisions between charged particles from a planet’s magnetosphere and atmospheric gases near the planet’s magnetic poles. Auroras are visible on Earth as the aurora borealis, or northern lights, and the aurora australis, or southern lights.

Glowing, dancing curtains of light in the upper atmosphere of a planet. Auroras are caused by the interaction between the planet’s magnetic field and charged particles from Earth’s magnetosphere. Aurora Borealis are the Northern Lights and Aurora Australis are the Southern Lights.

A faint visual phenomenon associated with geomagnetic activity, which occurs mainly in the high-latitude night sky; typical auroras are 100 to 250 km above the ground

Aurora Luminous phenomena, in the form of arcs, bands, draperies, or curtains in the high atmosphere over high latitudes. Auroras are related to magnetic storms and the influx of charged particles from the Sun. The phenomena are called aurora borealis in the Northern Hemisphere and aurora australis in the Southern Hemisphere.

Canadian aircraft.

Sporadic radiant emission from the upper atmosphere that usually occurs about the North and South magnetic poles of the Earth. Note 1: Auroras are most intense at times of intense magnetic storms caused by sunspot activity. The distribution of auroral intensity with altitude shows a pronounced maximum near 100 km above the Earth. Auroras may occasionally be observed within 40° or less of the equator. Note 2: Auroras interfere with radio communications. Note 3: In the Northern hemisphere, the aurora is called the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights). In the Southern hemisphere, the aurora is called the Aurora Australis (Southern Lights).