In Pics: Stunning Aurora Substorm Captured By Stargazers

Many planets, including Earth, possess a magnetosphere — a vast magnetic shield generated by the planet’s molten metal core. This protective barrier extends deep into space and guards the planet from harmful charged particles by absorbing their energy during collisions.

When sections of Earth's magnetosphere become overloaded with energy, a geomagnetic storm can develop, resembling how thunderclouds gather energy before a storm. These storms send bursts of energy down Earth's magnetic field lines, releasing it into the atmosphere like a torrential downpour.

The influx of particles during a geomagnetic storm injects millions of amps of current into the upper atmosphere, producing captivating auroral lights that stretch far beyond polar regions.

Solar Activity and Coronal Ejections

From time to time, solar magnetic storms unleash immense quantities of solar material in a chain of explosive outbursts. These eruptions, called coronal mass ejections (CMEs), appear as colossal clouds propelling through space.

Aurora colors result from energetic particles colliding with gases in the upper atmosphere, with each gas producing distinct colors at different altitudes.

Colors of the Aurora

Green auroras occur when electrons excite oxygen gas between 100 and 200 km altitude.
Blue auroras emerge when nitrogen gas is energized at similar heights (100–200 km).
Reddish-purple and pink glows appear when nitrogen is excited below 100 km.

Author’s Summary

This article explores how geomagnetic storms and solar eruptions create dazzling auroral displays, turning Earth’s upper atmosphere into a canvas of vivid light and color.

Mashable India — 2025-11-07