Sky lights

2001/01/22 Elhuyar Zientzia

• Klima

Auroras are observed around the magnetic poles north and south of the Earth, within the region called the aurora oval.

This extraordinary spectacle is due to the charged particles (solar wind) emitted by the Sun. Fortunately, the Magnetosphere, an area protected by the Earth's magnetic field, is able to divert these particles, since otherwise living on Earth would not be easy. But at the same time it allows us to enjoy auroras, which occur when charged particles reach the limits of the magnetosphere.

When particles collide with oxygen at very high altitudes, red auroras occur when shock occurs at a lower altitude, auroras are yellow and green. The latter are the most visible. Particles collide with nitrogen give blue color. The colors of the edges of the auroras are also of nitrogen.

But it is better to see it than to imagine. To do this you just have to approach Iceland, Scandinavia, Alaska or northern Canada, or Antarctica. The most beautiful auroras are seen in winter when the sky is dark, but the equinoxes are not bad approximate times in March and September-October.