In October of 2025, residents of parts of San Diego County, CA, were privileged to witness a display of Northern Lights. These rare events occur due to geomagnetic storms that allow visibility in a far wider area than normal.
◄ Image Credit: Laureen Akenson – Mont Laguna, San Diego County, CA Oct/2025
This event was part of a series of significant aurora displays due to solar activity which has been particularly strong during this period.
Auroras occur in the atmosphere in both the northern and southern hemispheres and are most often observed in the "auroral zone", a band approximately 660 km wide in latitude centered on 67° north and south.
◄ Image Credit: Laureen Akenson – Mont Laguna, San Diego County, CA Oct/2025
This event was part of a series of significant aurora displays due to solar activity which has been particularly strong during this period.
Auroras occur in the atmosphere in both the northern and southern hemispheres and are most often observed in the "auroral zone", a band approximately 660 km wide in latitude centered on 67° north and south.
Aurora is the latin word for “dawn” and the name of the Roman goddess of dawn. Aurora Borealis translates to mean "northern dawn." Unfortunately, observing a display of the northern or southern lights is an item on my “Bucket List” which I will probably not be able to cross off. I even traveled to Antarctica but, alas, at the wrong time of year. Northern and Southern Auroral Zones
Source of Images: https://www.bing.com/images/
Source of Images: https://www.bing.com/images/
WHAT IS AN AURORA?
An Aurora is a natural light display in Earth's sky, predominantly seen in high-latitude regions (around the arctic and antarctic). The dynamic patterns of brilliant lights appear as curtains, rays, spirals, or dynamic flickers covering the entire sky, although rarely as a solid color.
An Aurora is a natural light display in Earth's sky, predominantly seen in high-latitude regions (around the arctic and antarctic). The dynamic patterns of brilliant lights appear as curtains, rays, spirals, or dynamic flickers covering the entire sky, although rarely as a solid color.
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Image source: StockAdobe.com Aurora Borealis–So. Carolina, 2024 image credit: Adobe.stock Image Credit: Bill Renate
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Image Credit: Paul-Stewart/Flickr-2 Image Credit: Iceland
www.india.com/aurora-australis Image Credit: Kary Sarena
WHAT CAUSES AURORAS?
Auroras are the result of disturbances in the Earth's magnetosphere -- Earth's magnetic field that protects the planet and directs solar particles toward the poles -- caused by the outflow of charged particles into the solar system, called solar wind, continuously produced by the sun.
When this solar wind reaches Earth, it interacts with Earth’s magnetic shield, often depositing and accumulating energy there. When this energy is finally released, much of it rains down on our atmosphere. Major disturbances result from the increased speed of the solar wind, and the acceleration alters the trajectories of charged particles into the earth’s magnetosphere.
At about 400 km above earth, the “rain” of electrons hits the air molecules, speeding up their motion and ionizing them (giving them an electric charge). At about 100 km, these energetic particles in the atmosphere give the atoms and molecules of the gases making up the atmosphere extra energy, which is released as tiny specks of light of varying colors and complexity.
The form of the aurora is also dependent on the amount of acceleration imparted to the precipitating particles.
COLORS AND FORMS OF AURORA
The form and color of an aurora is dependent on the amount of acceleration imparted to the precipitating particles.
COLOR
When particles from space bombard gases in the atmosphere, they can give the atoms and molecules of the gases extra energy that’s released as tiny specks of light. The color of an aurora depends on the type of gas that is hit and where that gas is located in the atmosphere. Sometimes, the light emitted by these gases can appear to mix, making the auroras seem purple, pink, or even white.
Color Altitude Type of Gas
Green 60 to 120 miles Oxygen
Red Above 120 miles Oxygen
Blue 60 to 120 miles Nitrogen
Pink Below 60 miles Nitrogen
www.india.com/aurora-australis Image Credit: Kary Sarena
WHAT CAUSES AURORAS?
Auroras are the result of disturbances in the Earth's magnetosphere -- Earth's magnetic field that protects the planet and directs solar particles toward the poles -- caused by the outflow of charged particles into the solar system, called solar wind, continuously produced by the sun.
When this solar wind reaches Earth, it interacts with Earth’s magnetic shield, often depositing and accumulating energy there. When this energy is finally released, much of it rains down on our atmosphere. Major disturbances result from the increased speed of the solar wind, and the acceleration alters the trajectories of charged particles into the earth’s magnetosphere.
At about 400 km above earth, the “rain” of electrons hits the air molecules, speeding up their motion and ionizing them (giving them an electric charge). At about 100 km, these energetic particles in the atmosphere give the atoms and molecules of the gases making up the atmosphere extra energy, which is released as tiny specks of light of varying colors and complexity.
The form of the aurora is also dependent on the amount of acceleration imparted to the precipitating particles.
COLORS AND FORMS OF AURORA
The form and color of an aurora is dependent on the amount of acceleration imparted to the precipitating particles.
COLOR
When particles from space bombard gases in the atmosphere, they can give the atoms and molecules of the gases extra energy that’s released as tiny specks of light. The color of an aurora depends on the type of gas that is hit and where that gas is located in the atmosphere. Sometimes, the light emitted by these gases can appear to mix, making the auroras seem purple, pink, or even white.
Color Altitude Type of Gas
Green 60 to 120 miles Oxygen
Red Above 120 miles Oxygen
Blue 60 to 120 miles Nitrogen
Pink Below 60 miles Nitrogen
FORM
Over the years, astronomers have given various names to the forms created by aurora trying to describe the changing shapes. Displays often feature several of these forms combined together to create a truly stunning show.
The more standard terms as described by Melanie Windridge, British plasma physicist & aurora expert, in a May 11, 2024 article in skyatnightmagazine.com.
Over the years, astronomers have given various names to the forms created by aurora trying to describe the changing shapes. Displays often feature several of these forms combined together to create a truly stunning show.
The more standard terms as described by Melanie Windridge, British plasma physicist & aurora expert, in a May 11, 2024 article in skyatnightmagazine.com.
  | Arcs An arc is defined as a simple curve of light with a smooth lower border. Auroral displays often start as an arc. They can stretch horizontally for thousands of kilometrers, hundreds of kilometers upwards, but are only a few tens of kilometers thick. Image Credit: Chao S- Getty Images - Image Source: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/shapes-aurora Curtains Curtains are a common form of rayed band viewed from a distance, which takes a hanging, wavy appearance. They may also be referred to as drapes or draperies, particularly in historical accounts Chena Lakes in Fairbanks, Alaska Image Credit: Yu Takada / Getty Images Image Source: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/shapes-colours-aurora |
Bands
A band is similar to an arc — indeed it is now recognized as a form of arc — but with an irregular, wavy lower border rather than a smooth one. They may look serpentine in structure, curving and twisting.
Aurora over Kirkjufell, Iceland - Image Credit: February/ Getty Images
Image Source: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/shapes-colours-aurora
A band is similar to an arc — indeed it is now recognized as a form of arc — but with an irregular, wavy lower border rather than a smooth one. They may look serpentine in structure, curving and twisting.
Aurora over Kirkjufell, Iceland - Image Credit: February/ Getty Images
Image Source: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/shapes-colours-aurora
Rays
Rays are shafts of luminosity coming down from above, or they are sometimes described as pillars of light stretching upwards. Rayed structure can also be seen in the other auroral forms, such as striations seen in an arc or band. When the aurora is more active these rays can appear to move or pulse in the band.
Image Credit: Steffen Schnur / Getty Images
Image Source: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/shapes-colours-aurora
Rays are shafts of luminosity coming down from above, or they are sometimes described as pillars of light stretching upwards. Rayed structure can also be seen in the other auroral forms, such as striations seen in an arc or band. When the aurora is more active these rays can appear to move or pulse in the band.
Image Credit: Steffen Schnur / Getty Images
Image Source: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/shapes-colours-aurora
Coronae
Named after a crown, coronae are multiple rays converging to a zenith above the viewer, appearing as a large starburst-type formation overhead. The corona is widely considered to be the most impressive type of aurora, and they occur during strong overhead activity.
Aurora Borealis, corona overhead - Image Credit: Eerik / Getty Images
Image Source: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/shapes-colours-aurora
Named after a crown, coronae are multiple rays converging to a zenith above the viewer, appearing as a large starburst-type formation overhead. The corona is widely considered to be the most impressive type of aurora, and they occur during strong overhead activity.
Aurora Borealis, corona overhead - Image Credit: Eerik / Getty Images
Image Source: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/shapes-colours-aurora
Patches
Patches are regions of diffuse, less concentrated glow that appears in blobs and may pulse in brightness. Patchy pulsating aurora is much dimmer and less common than the arc forms of aurora, and the generation is from electrons being scattered into the atmosphere by a plasma wave called a whistler.”
Image Credit: Norseman1968 / Getty Images
Image Source: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/shapes-colours-aurora
Windridge points out in her article that “just as no two aurora are the same, neither are any two sightings of the same aurora, as the shape a display appears can often vary dramatically depending on where you are in relation to the lights in the sky.”
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN AURORAS?
The obvious difference is, of course, that Aurora Borealis occurs around the north pole, and Aurora Australis occurs around the south pole, and their names are different. Despite their shared origin in the Sun’s charged particles, the Northern and Southern Lights each have their own charm and mystique.
But now researchers and scientists know the two phenomena aren't identical. Advances
in Earth imaging technology changed the belief that they were essentially the same in 2009, when scientists observed simultaneous aurorae drifting across the poles in patterns that didn't match up.
The studies of the phenomena rendered evidence that “…when solar wind approaches Earth from an east-west direction, it creates uneven pressure on Earth's magnetotail and tilts it toward the side of the planet shrouded in darkness.” That tilt causes the idiosyncrasies of shape and location of the northern and southern ights, the team reported in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics. The findings could improve the prediction of solar storms which can disrupt electricity grids, satellites, and astronauts in space, the team says. www.science.org/northern-and-southern-lights-different
For most of us, we can remain enchanted with the drama of the natural light show.
JUST SAYIN’
Sources:
https://www.space.com/stargazing/auroras/northern-lights-may-be-visible-in-these-12-us-states-tonight-oct-2-2025
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/why-auroras-are-suddenly-everywhere-all-at-once-180986006/
https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/space-science/what-causes-different-shapes-colours-aurora
https://www.outdoors.org/resources/amc-outdoors/features/northern-lights-2025-east-coast-guide/
https://search.yahoo.com/
https://science.nasa.gov/sun/auroras/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora
https://scied.ucar.edu/learning-zone/sun-space-weather/aurora
https://blogstribe.com/northern-vs-southern-lights-key-differences-explained/
https://sciencenotes.org/aurora-colors-explained-southern-and-northern-lights/
Patches are regions of diffuse, less concentrated glow that appears in blobs and may pulse in brightness. Patchy pulsating aurora is much dimmer and less common than the arc forms of aurora, and the generation is from electrons being scattered into the atmosphere by a plasma wave called a whistler.”
Image Credit: Norseman1968 / Getty Images
Image Source: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/shapes-colours-aurora
Windridge points out in her article that “just as no two aurora are the same, neither are any two sightings of the same aurora, as the shape a display appears can often vary dramatically depending on where you are in relation to the lights in the sky.”
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN AURORAS?
The obvious difference is, of course, that Aurora Borealis occurs around the north pole, and Aurora Australis occurs around the south pole, and their names are different. Despite their shared origin in the Sun’s charged particles, the Northern and Southern Lights each have their own charm and mystique.
But now researchers and scientists know the two phenomena aren't identical. Advances
in Earth imaging technology changed the belief that they were essentially the same in 2009, when scientists observed simultaneous aurorae drifting across the poles in patterns that didn't match up.
The studies of the phenomena rendered evidence that “…when solar wind approaches Earth from an east-west direction, it creates uneven pressure on Earth's magnetotail and tilts it toward the side of the planet shrouded in darkness.” That tilt causes the idiosyncrasies of shape and location of the northern and southern ights, the team reported in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics. The findings could improve the prediction of solar storms which can disrupt electricity grids, satellites, and astronauts in space, the team says. www.science.org/northern-and-southern-lights-different
For most of us, we can remain enchanted with the drama of the natural light show.
JUST SAYIN’
Sources:
https://www.space.com/stargazing/auroras/northern-lights-may-be-visible-in-these-12-us-states-tonight-oct-2-2025
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/why-auroras-are-suddenly-everywhere-all-at-once-180986006/
https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/space-science/what-causes-different-shapes-colours-aurora
https://www.outdoors.org/resources/amc-outdoors/features/northern-lights-2025-east-coast-guide/
https://search.yahoo.com/
https://science.nasa.gov/sun/auroras/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora
https://scied.ucar.edu/learning-zone/sun-space-weather/aurora
https://blogstribe.com/northern-vs-southern-lights-key-differences-explained/
https://sciencenotes.org/aurora-colors-explained-southern-and-northern-lights/
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