The Mystical Lights

Today, during a slideshow presentation by Martin we learned many new things including more about the Aurora Borealis. In 1621 a French scientist Pierre Gassendi saw the Aurora, and named then it after the Roman goddess of dawn. The Aurora is created by solar winds (charged particles) interacting with the magnetic fields of the earth. When this occurs, you see the colors spread across the sky moving, waving, and dancing across the sky.

The main gases that create this special event are nitrogen and oxygen. The earth pulls these particles from the sun and then they strike the gasses at high speed creating the spectacular colors. The colors that are normally viewed are green, white, and blue. Also there can be a red color viewed, but it is very rare and is almost unheard of. When and if the red color of the Aurora are seen, they are extremely intense and can been viewed at great distances.

 
One of the main misconceptions of the Aurora is that it can only viewed in the winter months of the Northern Hemisphere, but it actually can be see in the summer months. Also people who are located in the Southern Hemisphere view lights almost identical to those viewed in the northern areas. The Aurora also has many parts to it. A few of these are…the arc, or the curved arch of light with a smooth lower edge; the band, or an arc with a folded lower edge; a patch, or a small area of light; Corona, arcs or bands are seen like a sunburst in all directions; a ray, or a thin ray of light that stands vertically; and the veil, or a large span of light that covers most of the sky. Another interesting fact is that scientists who study the aurora synchronize when they are going to record the data so that their information can be easily compared. The aurora is an amazing sight, and everyone should see it at least once in his or her life.

“He knew, by the streamers that shot so bright, that spirits were riding the northern light.”

Sir Walter Scott, 1802

C.A.A.E  Aurora Borealis  http://www.aurora-inn.mb.ca/borealis.html

Pictures…

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