Fairytale!

Auroras, also known as polar lights or northern/southern lights, are a natural phenomenon that occur in the Earth's atmosphere near the polar regions. Auroras occur when energetic particles from the sun, known as solar wind, collide with the Earth's magnetic field and ionosphere, producing beautiful and colorful displays of light in the sky.

Here is a step-by-step explanation of how auroras occur:

The sun emits solar wind, which consists of high-energy particles like electrons and protons. These particles travel through space at incredible speeds, sometimes reaching millions of kilometers per hour.

When the solar wind reaches the Earth's magnetic field, it interacts with the field, causing the magnetic field lines to stretch and compress.

As the magnetic field lines stretch and compress, they create a region of intense electric and magnetic fields known as the magnetosphere. The magnetosphere is shaped like a teardrop, with its tail pointing away from the sun.

The solar wind particles that are caught in the magnetosphere are funneled towards the Earth's poles along the magnetic field lines.

When these energetic particles collide with the atoms and molecules in the Earth's atmosphere, they excite the atoms and cause them to emit light of various colors. The specific colors depend on the type of atoms and molecules being excited, and can include green, pink, red, blue, and purple.

The result is a stunning display of light in the sky known as an aurora. Auroras can take on many different forms, including curtains, arcs, rays, and coronas.

The effects of auroras can be both beneficial and harmful. Here are a few examples:

Beneficial effects: Auroras can create beautiful and awe-inspiring displays that have inspired people for centuries. They also have cultural and spiritual significance for many indigenous people who live near the polar regions. Additionally, auroras can create ionospheric disturbances that can affect radio communications and GPS systems, providing valuable information for scientists who study the Earth's upper atmosphere.

Harmful effects: The same ionospheric disturbances that create auroras can also interfere with satellite and radio communications, causing disruptions and blackouts. Additionally, the energetic particles that create auroras can be dangerous to astronauts and satellites, and can even pose a radiation hazard to humans on the ground if they become too intense. Finally, auroras are a sign of increased solar activity, which can also cause geomagnetic storms that can damage power grids and other infrastructure.

Most Frequently asked questions

What will happen if we touch Arora Borealis

Well, I am really to say this but you won't get any superpowers on touching Arora Borealis, in fact you can't even touch Arora Borealis because they are a high-altitude atmospheric phenomenon, meaning they occur far above the Earth's surface, typically around 60-600 kilometers (37-370 miles) above the ground. At these altitudes, the atmosphere is extremely thin and contains very little gas or matter, so there is nothing to touch.

In addition, auroras are made up of light, not physical matter, so they cannot be touched in the same way that you can touch a solid object like a rock or a piece of furniture. The light that makes up auroras is created by excited atoms and molecules in the Earth's upper atmosphere emitting photons, or particles of light, which travel through the air and eventually reach our eyes as a colorful and dynamic display.

It is worth noting that while auroras themselves are not dangerous to touch (since they cannot be touched), the conditions that create auroras, such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections, can produce intense radiation and charged particles that can be harmful to human health and electronics. It is important to avoid prolonged exposure to these types of space weather events, especially for astronauts and other individuals who spend time at high altitudes or in space.

Which countries have Arora?

The Auroral band stretches across Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Greenland, and Canada.

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/aurora/

https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/aurora/