I had told my wife I saw a line of light moving across the sky, thank you for the picture I had left my phone in the house while walking dog........
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Northern lights(Southern lights)
- Thread starter BlackRifler42
- Start date
Too much light pollution...we used to live in the country 
Fairmount, GA
I saw it too 👍
It was raining and overcast (and cold) here in Virginia. Clear today so maybe tonight.
I asked Co-Pilot a question:
The colors of the aurora are a mesmerizing result of the interaction between solar particles and Earth’s atmosphere. Let’s dive into the science behind these captivating sky shows:
The colors of the aurora are a mesmerizing result of the interaction between solar particles and Earth’s atmosphere. Let’s dive into the science behind these captivating sky shows:
- Green Aurora:
- The most common color observed in auroras is green. It occurs when charged particles from the sun collide with oxygen molecules in Earth’s upper atmosphere at altitudes of around 60 to 190 miles (100 to 300 kilometers) above the surface.
- Our eyes are particularly sensitive to the green color spectrum, which is why we perceive green auroras more vividly than other colors1.
- Other Colors:
- Red Aurora: When solar particles interact with lower-altitude oxygen, they produce a reddish hue. This occurs at altitudes below 60 miles (100 kilometers).
- Blue and Purple Aurora: These colors result from interactions with nitrogen molecules at higher altitudes. Nitrogen produces blue and purple hues when excited by solar particles.
- Yellow and Pink Aurora: These colors are less common but can occur due to a combination of oxygen and nitrogen interactions1.
- How It Works:
- Energized particles from the sun collide with Earth’s upper atmosphere at speeds of up to 45 million mph (72 million kph).
- Earth’s magnetic field redirects these particles toward the north and south poles.
- As the charged particles enter Earth’s atmosphere, they excite gas atoms and molecules.
- Similar to neon lights, these excited atoms and molecules release energy as photons (light), creating the colorful auroras.
- The specific color depends on the gas mixture in our atmosphere, which includes nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and trace amounts of other elements1.
- Scattered Light:
- Sunlight and moonlight can also scatter in the atmosphere, affecting the colors we perceive during auroras.
- Each element releases specific wavelengths of light, blending together to create the stunning displays we see in the night sky2.
