Northern lights (aurora borealis): What they are & how to see them
The northern lights, or the aurora borealis, are beautiful dancing ribbons of light that have captivated people for millennia. But for all its beauty, this spectacular light show is a rather violent event.
The northern lights are created when energized particles from the sun slam into Earth's upper atmosphere at speeds of up to 45 million mph (72 million kph), but our planet's magnetic field protects us from the onslaught.
As Earth's magnetic field redirects the particles toward the poles — there are southern lights, too, which you can read about below — the dramatic process transforms into a cinematic atmospheric phenomenon that dazzles and fascinates scientists and skywatchers alike. Visit Space.com for more inforamtion about the Northern Lights.
Did you know there is a SPACE WEATHER PREDICTION CENTER??? They have dashboards for different types of space weather, including the Aurora Dashboard.
What to read:
For kids
Northern Lights by Valerie Bodden (picture book0
Northern Lights by Martha E.H. Rustad
For older kids:
The Northern Lights by Kristen Rajczak
Northern Lights by Philip Pullman (fiction)
For adults:
Northern Lights: a history of the Arctic Scots by Edward J. Cowan
What to listen to:
Northern Lights : choral works by Ola Gjeilo.Gjeilo, Ola, 1978-
The northern lights are created when energized particles from the sun slam into Earth's upper atmosphere at speeds of up to 45 million mph (72 million kph), but our planet's magnetic field protects us from the onslaught.
As Earth's magnetic field redirects the particles toward the poles — there are southern lights, too, which you can read about below — the dramatic process transforms into a cinematic atmospheric phenomenon that dazzles and fascinates scientists and skywatchers alike. Visit Space.com for more inforamtion about the Northern Lights.
Did you know there is a SPACE WEATHER PREDICTION CENTER??? They have dashboards for different types of space weather, including the Aurora Dashboard.
What to read:
For kids
Northern Lights by Valerie Bodden (picture book0
Northern Lights by Martha E.H. Rustad
For older kids:
The Northern Lights by Kristen Rajczak
Northern Lights by Philip Pullman (fiction)
For adults:
Northern Lights: a history of the Arctic Scots by Edward J. Cowan
What to listen to:
Northern Lights : choral works by Ola Gjeilo.Gjeilo, Ola, 1978-
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