Colors


What Causes the Aurora's different colors?


The specific colors see by us when we view the aurora, depend on the specific atoms and their level of energy.


 At high altitudes where the aurora is found the air consists of atoms of  molecular oxygen and nitrogen. The electrons of the aurora, when greatly excited can split these atoms apart thus emitting typical colors corresponding to molecular oxygen and nitrogen.


oxygen atoms= green and red





Nitrogen atoms=blue and purple




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http://www.princesslodges.com/blog/index.php/fairbanks-princess/alaska_northern_lights/