What is an Aurora?

• An aurora is a natural phenomenon which is characterized by a display of a natural-coloured (green, red, yellow or white) light in the sky. 
• It is a light show which is caused when electrically-charged particles from the sun collide with particles from gasses such as oxygen and nitrogen present in the Earth’s atmosphere.
• Aurora is sometimes referred to as ‘polar light’. 
• It is predominantly seen in the regions of high altitudes like the Arctic and Antarctic.

What causes an Aurora?

• An aurora is caused by the streams of electrified particles (which are emitted by the sun) trapped in the magnetic field of the earth. 
• It is produced when this magnetosphere is disturbed by the solar wind carrying the charged particles. 
• Auroras are seen in latitudes of around 70 degrees. They generally occur in a band known as ‘auroral zone’. 
• The auroral zone is 3 to 6 degrees wide in latitude. It lies between 10 and 20 degrees from the geomagnetic poles. 
• This is visible quite clearly during the night. Auroras can sometimes be seen at latitudes below the actual auroral zone. 
• Auroras can appear in various forms like streamers, patches, arcs, scattered light, diffused light etc. 
• The brightest and the most distinctive of all forms of auroras are the ones which are curtain-like in the shape of an arc, extending in the east-west direction. 
• This natural light effect is known as ‘aurora borealis’ in northern altitudes, while the effect in the southern latitudes is known as ‘aurora australis’. 
• Aurora borealis is also known as ‘Northern lights’. Similarly, aurora australis is also known as ‘Southern lights’.