AURORAS By Danielle Mamaril History of Auroras Many

AURORAS By Danielle Mamaril

History of Auroras • Many myths & folklore based off Aurora Borealis • Named after Roman Goddess of the Dawn

What creates an Aurora? • Solar Winds, carrying charged particles released by the Sun, is deflected by Earth’s Magnetosphere • Earth’s magnetosphere changes it shape after impact with solar wind. • Pressure pushes charged electrons toward the magnetic poles, and into Earth’s Atmosphere Solar Winds morphing the Magnetosphere

What Creates an Aurora pt. 2 • Charged electrons collide with Nitrogen & Hydrogen gases in Atmosphere • Molecules become exited • When calming down, molecules release photons • Many released photons create an aurora! Ions hitting the air molecules

What causes an Aurora’s Colors? • Type of Gas • Allitude Oxygen gas emission spectra Aurora with Oxygen gases

Where can I see an Aurora? • Higher latitude regions • Can also be seen at Southern Pole • Best seen at night Aurora austral is in Bluff Harbor, New Zealand

Aurora on Other Planets • Planet needs magnetic force! • Ex: Saturn & Jupiter Ultraviolet photo of Saturn, showing its Aurora Ovals

Summary • Auroras are made by excited electrons in our atmosphere, charged with elections from the Solar winds. • The various colors are the emissions spectra of the gases in Earth’s athmosphere. • Can only be seen from earth’s magnetic poles • Other planets can have Aurora’s too! Sources: "Auroral Skies. " Aurora. University of California – Berkeley, Solar Week. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. <http: //ds 9. ssl. berkeley. edu/solarweek/WEDNESDAY/aurora. html>. "Frequently Asked Questions about Aurora and Answers. " Aurora FAQ. University of Alaska Fairbanks, Geophysical Institute. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. <http: //odin. gi. alaska. edu/FAQ/>.