Happy St. Patrick's Day :

⁣With a bit of luck, spectators near the North or South Pole can see auroras. In the Northern Hemisphere, these are called aurora borealis or the northern lights. If you're near the South Pole, they are called aurora australis or the southern lights. Auroras are caused by solar activity like solar flares (explosions on the Sun) or coronal mass ejections (ejected gas bubbles), which, carried by solar winds, interact with Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere.⁣

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The Sun's activity levels don't stay constant. They go through phases of high and low activity called the solar cycle. Scientists expect the Sun's activity to ramp up toward the next peak of solar activity, called the solar maximum, which is predicted for July 2025, so be sure to wear sunscreen and book a vacation to Earth's poles to see an aurora!⁣
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Image description: A green aurora is seen over Poker Flat Research Range near Fairbanks, Alaska. Snow, buildings, a car, and scientific equipment can be seen toward the bottom of the photo. The aurora appears in shades of green winding its way across the sky. Stars dot the inky black night.⁣
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Credit: NASA/Terry Zaperach⁣

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#Aurora #NorthernLights #Sun #Earth #SaintPatricksDay #Green

[ INFORMATION DATA: 17 March 2024 ]