NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Amazing Auroras

Millions of people around the world were treated to a brilliant display of aurora lights this week, thanks to some unusual solar activity. The photo above was taken by Jodie Keefe of Waverly, Minnesota.

From Nov. 4-8, the Sun produced at least five major "halo" coronal mass ejections (CMEs), giant bubbles of solar particles which explode out from the star. The aurora, also known as the Northern and Southern Lights, form when these solar particles and magnetic fields pump energy into the Earth's magnetic field, accelerating electrically charged particles trapped within.

Credit and Copyright: Jodie Keefe. Used by permission.

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