Aurora borealis (Northern Lights)

The Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, is a natural light display predominantly seen in high-latitude regions near the Arctic. It occurs when charged particles from the solar wind collide with Earth's magnetic field and interact with gases in our atmosphere, mainly oxygen and nitrogen. These interactions excite the gases, causing them to emit light, creating vibrant, shifting curtains of color across the sky. The specific colors—greens, reds, purples—depend on the type of gas and altitude involved. The auroras are a beautiful manifestation of the Earth's magnetic shield interacting with solar activity.