Northern Lights
The beautiful dancing waves of light
The Northern lights, or the Aurora borealis,
have captivated people for millennia. But for all its beauty, this
spectacular light show is a rather violent event. Energized particles
from the sun slam into Earth's upper atmosphere at speeds of up to 45
million mph (72 million kph), but our planet's magnetic field protects
us from the onslaught. As Earth's magnetic field redirects the particles
toward the poles, the dramatic process transforms into a cinematic
atmospheric phenomenon that dazzles and fascinates scientists and
skywatchers alike.