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'''Auroras''', also known as northern and southern (polar) lights  or aurorae (singular: aurora), are [[natural]] [[light]] displays in the sky, usually [[observed]] at night, particularly in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographical_pole polar regions]. They typically occur in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ionosphere ionosphere]. They are also referred to as polar auroras. This is a misnomer however, because they are commonly visible between 65 to 72 degrees north and south latitudes, which would place it in a ring just within the Arctic and Antarctic circles. Aurorae occur deeper inside the polar regions, but these are infrequent occurrences, and these are often [[invisible]] to the naked eye.

'''Auroras''', also known as northern and southern (polar) lights  or aurorae (singular: aurora), are [[natural]] [[light]] displays in the sky, usually [[observed]] at night, particularly in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographical_pole polar regions]. They typically occur in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ionosphere ionosphere]. They are also referred to as polar auroras. This is a misnomer however, because they are commonly visible between 65 to 72 degrees north and south latitudes, which would place it in a ring just within the Arctic and Antarctic circles. Aurorae occur deeper inside the polar regions, but these are infrequent occurrences, and these are often [[invisible]] to the naked eye.

In northern latitudes, the [[effect]] is known as the ''aurora borealis'', named after the [[Roman]] goddess of dawn, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora_(mythology) Aurora], and the [[Greek]] name for the north wind, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anemoi Boreas], by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Gassendi Pierre Gassendi] in 1621. The ''aurora borealis'' is also called the northern polar lights, as it is only [[visible]] in the sky from the Northern Hemisphere, with the [[chance]] of visibility increasing with proximity to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Magnetic_Pole North Magnetic Pole]. ([[Earth]]'s is currently in the arctic islands of northern Canada.) Auroras seen near the magnetic pole may be high overhead, but from further away, they [[illuminate]] the northern [[horizon]] as a greenish glow or sometimes a faint red, as if the sun were rising from an unusual direction. The Aurora Borealis most often occurs near the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox equinoxes]. The northern lights have had a [[number]] of names throughout [[history]]. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cree Cree] call this [[phenomenon]] the "Dance of the Spirits." In the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Ages Middle Ages] the auroras have been called a sign from [[God]] (see Wilfried Schröder, Das Phänomen des Polarlichts, Darmstadt 1984).

In northern latitudes, the [[effect]] is known as the ''aurora borealis'', named after the [[Roman]] goddess of dawn, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora_(mythology) Aurora], and the [[Greek]] name for the north wind, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anemoi Boreas], by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Gassendi Pierre Gassendi] in 1621. The ''aurora borealis'' is also called the northern polar lights, as it is only [[visible]] in the sky from the Northern Hemisphere, with the [[chance]] of visibility increasing with proximity to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Magnetic_Pole North Magnetic Pole]. ([[Earth]]'s is currently in the arctic islands of northern Canada.) Auroras seen near the magnetic pole may be high overhead, but from further away, they [[illuminate]] the northern [[horizon]] as a greenish glow or sometimes a faint red, as if the sun were rising from an unusual direction. The Aurora Borealis most often occurs near the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox equinoxes]. The northern lights have had a [[number]] of names throughout [[history]]. The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cree Cree] call this [[phenomenon]] the "Dance of the Spirits." In the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Ages Middle Ages] the auroras have been called a sign from [[God]] (see Wilfried Schröder, Das Phänomen des Polarlichts, Darmstadt 1984).

Its southern [[counterpart]], the aurora australis or the southern polar lights, has similar properties, but is only [[visible]] from high southern latitudes in Antarctica, South America, or Australasia. Australis is the [[Latin]] [[word]] for "of the South."

Its southern [[counterpart]], the aurora australis or the southern polar lights, has similar properties, but is only [[visible]] from high southern latitudes in Antarctica, South America, or Australasia. Australis is the [[Latin]] [[word]] for "of the South."

Auroras can be spotted throughout the world and on other [[planets]]. It is most visible closer to the poles due to the longer periods of [[darkness]] and the [[magnetic]] field.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora_%28astronomy%29]

Auroras can be spotted throughout the world and on other [[planets]]. It is most visible closer to the poles due to the longer periods of [[darkness]] and the [[magnetic]] field.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora_%28astronomy%29]

[[Category: Astronomy]]

[[Category: Astronomy]]

[[Category: Earth Science]]

[[Category: Earth Science]]