The Aurora Borealis

aurora borealis

The Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, shines above Bear Lake, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska taken by Senior Airman Joshua Strang in January 2005


The Aurora Borealis, otherwise known as the Northern Lights, is a physics phenomenon that can be magical to observe, striking onlookers to wonder about the cause of the whimsical lights that dance overhead.  This extraordinary display is caused by charged particles being expelled into space from the sun.  When those particles come into contact with the magnetic field of Earth, the Earth directs the charge to the poles where they collide with gas molecules and create the amazing displays that you see.

The following video further explains the Aurora Borealis:


More information:

http://alaskatrekker.com/news10007.htm