🌌 Aurora (Northern Lights)
Exploring the wonder of an aurora (northern lights)!
An Aurora (Northern Lights) is a beautiful, glowing light show that dances in the night sky.
🌍 What Is an Aurora (Northern Lights)?
An aurora is a glowing light show in the night sky. The Sun constantly blows out a stream of tiny charged particles called the solar wind. Earth's magnetic field steers them toward the North and South Poles, where they crash into gases high in the air and make them glow, a bit like a neon sign. Oxygen glows green and red, and nitrogen glows blue and purple.
🌟 Fun Facts about Aurora (Northern Lights)
- Auroras happen when tiny particles from the sun bump into gases high in Earth’s atmosphere.
- The northern version is called the Aurora Borealis, and the southern version is the Aurora Australis.
- Auroras can shimmer in colors like green, pink, and purple.
- You can usually only see auroras in places near the North or South Pole, on clear, dark nights.
🔎 Where to See an Aurora (Northern Lights)
The best places to see the northern lights are Norway, Iceland, Finland, Canada and Alaska, on clear, dark winter nights far from city lights. The southern lights can be seen from Antarctica, southern New Zealand and Tasmania. When the Sun is very active, auroras are sometimes seen much farther from the poles.
🧠 Quick Quiz!
What is an Aurora (Northern Lights)?
🏫 Classroom Activity
Have children paint or draw a night sky filled with swirling green and purple lights, then talk about where in the world you might see it.
🏠 Homeschool Activity
Watch a video of the northern lights together, and find the North and South Poles on a map or globe.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What causes an aurora?
Particles from the sun hitting gases in the atmosphere.
What is the difference between the Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis?
Northern versus southern versions.
What colors can auroras be?
Green, pink, and purple.
Where can you see auroras?
Near the North or South Pole on clear, dark nights.
What activities help kids learn about auroras?
Painting a night sky, watching a video, finding the poles on a map, or coloring a printable worksheet.