Posted Mar 22, 2008 at 10:55PM by Sally B. Listed in: Astronomy Tags: Northern Lights
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Aurora - Image 1Springtime isn't only about vacations and spring break; for nature enthusiasts, spring is also about the beautiful Northern Lights. For those who haven't encountered the beautiful spectacle, the Aurora Borealis is a swath of brilliant light in the sky, visible during the night. But for some reason, Auroras occur more often during springtime.

How, you ask? Let's check out first how Auroras are born. Auroras are actually powerful geomagnetic storms capable of disrupting (or supporting) telecommunications, causing satellite malfunctions, and even home power outages. These geomagnetic storms happen to be fueled by solar wind particles flowing from the Sun.

But mere exposure to the Sun alone doesn't spark the Aurora, since the magnetic connections between the Sun and the Earth also come into play. As it turns out, the Earth's magnetic poles are better aligned with the Sun around Spring, making the planet more inducive to the shimmering curtain of lights.

So if you live in the areas where the Aurora can be seen, it's time to ramp up the number of your evening walks. Spring is here, along with the brilliant green (and sometimes red) light shows.

[Via NASA] Permalink  |   Email this  |   Linking Blogs   |   Digg It!

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