What is the aurora australis?
Quick Answer
The aurora australis is the Southern Hemisphere's southern lights, a natural glow in the sky caused by charged particles from the Sun interacting with Earth's atmosphere.
The Full Story
The aurora australis appears mainly near Antarctica, southern New Zealand, and Tasmania. It is created when solar particles are guided by Earth's magnetic field toward the polar regions, where they collide with gases in the upper atmosphere and produce colorful light. Green is the most common color, but red, purple, and pink can also appear depending on altitude and gas type. Its northern counterpart is the aurora borealis, and both are strongest during periods of high solar activity.
Key Facts
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"See how the Sun paints Antarctica with giant curtains of light."