The Northern Lights are the coolest! Our sun emits a constant stream of charged particles which release huge bubbles of electrified gas. While the Earth’s magnetic field usually shields us, during solar storms, particles from the gas can become trapped and funnel down toward the poles. The high-energy particles collide with oxygen and nitrogen atoms in our atmosphere which excites them to a higher energy state. When the atoms return to their normal state, energy is released as photons of light which create the aurora we see!
Many Mac students gathered on The Great Lawn to witness this beautiful sight!
