Aurora
by eschellhase
The Earth has a magnetosphere that protects us from charged solar particles coming from the sun. However, some charged particles manage to penetrate the magnetosphere. These then follow the magnetic lines of our magnetosphere. If these gain enough energy they can travel down into Earth’s atmosphere. Here they hit atoms and molecules, causing them to radiate light. These collisions produce the aurora seen near the poles. Aurora occur at the poles because solar wind particles are more likely to penetrate near the poles and because the particles follow the magnetic pole lines.
Image by
BaboMike on Flickr.
Image from p_c_w on Flickr.
Image by B Eilertson on Flickr.
Image by jennafa on Flickr.
E. Schellhase 
Those are some great photos of such an interesting phenomenon! I also really liked your succinct and clear explanation as to why auroras happen here on Earth. I’d be interested to know if auroras happen elsewhere, on any other planetary bodies with a large enough magnetoshpere.
I also wrote about Aurora. My perspective was that this would be magnificent to see in person. At some point in my life I want to go see aurora in person for vacation. The pictures you used are stunning.