Aurora Borealis Information
The Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, is caused by the interactions between solar particles and the Earth’s magnetic field. When charged particles from the Sun, also known as solar wind, reach the Earth’s atmosphere, they collide with atoms and molecules, particularly oxygen and nitrogen.
These collisions energize the atoms and molecules, causing them to emit light of various colors. Oxygen tends to emit green and red light, while nitrogen emits blue and purple light. The specific colors observed in the aurora depend on the altitude and the type of atom or molecule involved.
The Earth’s magnetic field plays a crucial role in guiding the charged particles towards the polar regions. As the particles approach the polar atmosphere, they are funneled towards the magnetic poles, where they interact with the atoms and molecules in the atmosphere, producing the magnificent light display that we see as the Aurora Borealis.
Factors such as solar activity, geomagnetic storms, and the Earth’s position in relation to the Sun influence the intensity and frequency of the aurora. It is a natural wonder that continues to captivate and amaze people around the world.
Frontier Village SkyCam
This is our very own sky cam. It is positioned near the cabins, and provides a view of the sky above! The bottom of the circle is North.
Timelapse Video Gallery
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