The journey of the polar lights begins nearly on the Sun.
: Rare and usually seen at much higher altitudes, also caused by oxygen . Blue and Purple : Triggered by nitrogen atoms. Polar Lights mp4
: Often result from intense solar storms that excite nitrogen at lower levels. Northern vs. Southern Lights What are the Northern Lights? | Aurora Borealis Explained The journey of the polar lights begins nearly on the Sun
: The Sun constantly emits a stream of charged particles known as the solar wind . Major eruptions, such as solar flares or coronal mass ejections, send billions of tons of plasma hurtling toward Earth. : Often result from intense solar storms that
The specific colors observed depend on the altitude and the type of gas involved:
: As these solar particles slam into atmospheric gases, they "excite" the atoms. To return to their normal state, the atoms release this excess energy as photons . A Palette of Atmospheric Colors
: The most common color, produced by oxygen at lower altitudes (around 60–150 miles up).