April 13, 2025

Lights From Heaven

10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Auroras:


1. They happen on other planets too
Auroras aren’t unique to Earth—Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and even Mars have auroras caused by their magnetic fields interacting with solar winds.

2. They make sounds—sometimes
While rare and faint, people have reported hearing soft crackles or hissing sounds during intense auroras. Scientists believe these are caused by electrical discharges close to the ground.

3. The colors depend on altitude and gas
Green is the most common color and comes from oxygen at lower altitudes. Red auroras also come from oxygen but at higher altitudes. Blue and purple hues are caused by nitrogen.

4. There are southern lights too
The Southern Hemisphere has its own version, called the **Aurora Australis**. It's just as stunning but harder to see due to fewer populated areas near the South Pole.

5. You can see them during the day—if you’re in space
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station have witnessed auroras from above, glowing against the curve of the Earth—even on the sunlit side of the planet.

6. Ancient cultures had wild interpretations
The Vikings believed auroras were reflections from Valkyries’ armor. Inuit legends saw them as spirits playing games in the sky. Some Native American tribes believed they were messages from the dead.

7. Auroras follow an 11-year solar cycle
Aurora activity increases during periods of high solar activity, which follows an approximately 11-year cycle. The more solar storms, the more likely you'll see intense auroras.

8. You don’t have to be in the Arctic to see them
While auroras are common near the poles, strong geomagnetic storms can push them as far south as the continental U.S., Northern Europe, and parts of Asia.

9. The word “aurora” comes from mythology
“Aurora” was the Roman goddess of the dawn. The phenomenon’s full name, **Aurora Borealis**, was coined by Galileo and means “dawn of the north.”

10. They can disrupt technology
Strong solar storms that cause auroras can also mess with satellites, GPS systems, and power grids on Earth—making them both beautiful and powerful.