Just like weather can be predicted.. but a thousand times harder. And we can't even fully predict the weather just yet. Science is bringing us closer everyday so soon enough we may be able to predict auroras more effectivley. For over 10 years and 40,000 orbits, the FAST satelite has and continues to unveil the mysteries of the Aurora Borealis.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Friday, May 14, 2010
Where do Auroras occur? Do they happen on other planets?
Are the effects of the Auroras harmful?
Not to our surface. The Earths atmosphere is like a giant shield, protecting us from the suns rays and magnetic particles. Although Passengers in an aircraft flying through the Aurora may experience slight radiation, such as the exposure when getting an X-Ray. Radio waves and other electrical currents may also be disturbed during the Aurora.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
What makes the color of an Aurora?
The color of the Aurora is determined by the altitude and density of the air and the energy emitted by molecules or atoms in the sky. When the excited atom reaches a certain altitude it is strong enough to split the nitrogen and the oxygen molecules thus shooting out the photons that create the auroras signature color. The colors are usually a variation of a red or green color. They can also range from red to pink, blue to purple and dark to light. The picture in the right shows how the atoms are creating different colors determining the altitude.
What Are Auroras?
Auroras are luminous displays of color glowing in the upper most parts of the atmosphere. They are visible at night and often occurs in high altitudes. In the Northern hemisphere it is known as Aurora Borealis, and in the Southern it is called Aurora Australis.
The Aurora is a reaction of energized particles from sun rays turning into atmospheric gasses.
The Aurora is a reaction of energized particles from sun rays turning into atmospheric gasses.
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