Aurora

(Last edited: Sunday, 17 September 2023, 9:38 PM)

Image/Video/Audio Source: Hemmingsen, J.A. (2016, January 8). aurora borealis in Ersfjordbotn. flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/64104971@N02/24226248576

Short Definition:
An aurora (plural: auroras or aurorae) is a sporadic atmospheric phenomenon occurring usually in the night at high latitudes.

Detailed Definition:
An aurora is a phenomenon caused by the Sun (star). A bust of electrified gas (solar wind) from the star approaches planets. Small particles travel down the magnetic field lines towards both poles. Particles from the star interact with gas particles in the atmosphere, causing the creation of the light in the sky. Depending on the atmosphere composition, the colour of the aurora might be different. Oxygen glows green and red, nitrogen blue and purple. Auroras can appear on every celestial object that has an atmosphere and magnetic field. On Earth, the aurora near the North Pole is called an aurora borealis (northern light) and one near the South Pole is called an aurora australis (southern light).

Etymology:
aurora – aurora- Latin - dawn

Sample Sentence(s):
“Aurorae are considered to be one of the seven natural wonders of the world.” (source: https://astronomy.swin.edu.au/cosmos/a/Aurora)

Translations:

French:
l' aurore

German:
Das Polarlicht

Polish:
zorza polarna

Swedish:
Norrsken

Spanish:
Aurora

Links to Videos/Articles:
https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/aurora/en/
https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/glossary/en/
https://astronomy.com/observing/observe-the-solar-system/2010/04/the-aurora
https://astronomy.swin.edu.au/cosmos/a/Aurora

» Dictionary of Space Concepts

Aurora

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