Why the northern and southern lights appear to be so active right now
CTV
The breathtaking dancing shimmer of the aurora borealis and its counterpart in the southern hemisphere, aurora australis, dazzles those lucky enough to catch a glimpse of Earth's greatest light show.
The breathtaking dancing shimmer of the aurora borealis and its counterpart in the southern hemisphere, aurora australis, dazzles those lucky enough to catch a glimpse of Earth's greatest light show.
The northern and southern lights, which are usually confined to the Arctic and Antarctica, have generated awe and wonder for centuries.
In recent months, photographers and night sky watchers have been capturing the colourful display further south (or north if you're in the southern hemisphere) than usual — places like Toronto, Atlantic Canada, the state of Colorado, the southeast of England and New South Wales. Pilots have circled their planes mid-flight to give their passengers a closer look at the phenomenon.
A new solar event over the weekend caused colourful auroras Sunday night and Monday morning, and more can be expected Monday night, according to EarthSky.
Auroras may be visible across much of Canada and as far south as Alabama and northern California, according to NOAA's Aurora Forecast. Check to see if your state might be one of many in the viewing area and the best ways to see auroras.
Auroras are caused by activity on the sun — particularly a type of solar storm called a coronal mass ejection, which emits electrified gas and particles into space. When these electrified particles reach magnetic field lines at the north and south poles, which usually takes around three days, they enter into Earth's atmosphere.
Once there, the particles and energy interact with gases in the atmosphere, producing different coloured light in the sky. Oxygen gives off green, the most commonly seen colour, as well as red light, according to Aurora Watch at Lancaster University in the United Kingdom. Nitrogen glows blue and purple, according to NASA. Clear weather can also help make the auroras more visible.
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