The Science

The northern lights begin on the suns surface, where a cloud of gas called a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME happens often. These gas clouds will sometimes reach earth, and in colliding with our magnetic field in causes a current of charged particles (these are often called Solar Wind). These particles then float around the earth, and when they escape into our atmosphere and collide with oxygen and nitrogen atoms they produce the spectacle of lights. This can happen at any time, although the lights are not visible to the naked eye unless it is dark out. (Northern Lights Centre)

 

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