The Northern Lights (aurora borealis) appear in a range of colors, with green being the most common visible to the naked eye, often accompanied by pink or red edges, and sometimes blue or purple hues. The colors arise from interactions between charged solar particles and Earth's atmosphere, and their exact hues depend on the altitudes of the interactions and the types of gas involved. Key color basics
- Green: The dominant color for most displays, produced mainly by collisions with oxygen molecules at altitudes of roughly 60–150 miles (100–240 kilometers).
- Red: Less common and seen at higher altitudes (above ~180 miles / 300 kilometers), caused by excited oxygen atoms.
- Pink, purple, blue, and yellow: Occur less frequently and typically arise from a mix of gases or lower/higher altitude interactions, or during intense solar activity.
- Color visibility: The human eye is more sensitive to green, so green auroras are often the most prominent in real-time skies and in photographs, which can sometimes exaggerate other colors.
Practical notes for observers
- Location and activity: Vigorous solar activity increases the likelihood of vivid colors and broader color ranges, including purples and reds.
- Altitude matters: Higher-altitude emissions tend to be red, while lower-altitude emissions tend toward greens and blues/purples depending on the gas.
- Weather and light conditions: Clear, dark skies away from light pollution improve color contrast and visibility of the aurora’s full color spectrum.
If you’d like, I can tailor this to your location and current solar activity, or pull concise references about aurora colors from authoritative sources.
