Aurora Wallpapers | Top Aurora Backgrounds

The aurora borealis, often known as the Northern Lights, is the silver lining to every storm cloud; in the case of space weather, that silver lining is the aurora borealis. (The aurora australis, or Southern Lights, is an analogous form for viewers in the southern hemisphere.) On a clear, cool night around the spring or fall equinox, the phenomena are best viewed. You could get a glimpse of the sight if you find an open piece of sky far away from the city’s distracting lights: curtains of pale light-green and blue, occasionally scarlet or violet, shimmering over the northern horizon for minutes or even hours at a time.

When the Sun’s electrons and protons collide with gas molecules in Earth’s upper atmosphere, auroras form. Black auroras, on the other hand, have unique patterns, such as curls, circles, and writhing black areas. Scientists can frequently predict a stunning aurora hours or days in advance these days, so it’s worth monitoring space weather websites on a daily basis. The fact that Earth isn’t the only planet having auroras became clear. Because of the massive concentrations of hydrogen in their atmospheres, auroras on Jupiter and Saturn look pink. The aurora on Jupiter has proven to be extremely fascinating. A torrent of charged particles from the Sun fuel the aurora on Earth.

Earth’s auroras are unique in one way: they are (at least occasionally) green. Because Earth is the only known planet with an oxygen-rich atmosphere, it is the only known world with green auroras. Auroras are one evidence that scientists investigate as they search farther into the universe for hints of other, potentially livable worlds. If a faraway, undiscovered planet has sparkling green auroras, it’s a good bet that its atmosphere has enough of oxygen, maybe enough to support life. Whether or if that life can enjoy the auroras is another question.