- #1
RICKYtan
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Do the formation of auroras always occur in circles/ovals/ellipses?? What causes the shape of their formation?
Do all auroras occur in circles?
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- Thread starter RICKYtan
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In summary: The ions collide with atoms and molecules in the atmosphere, causing them to emit light and create the beautiful auroras we see. In summary, auroras do not always occur in circles, ovals, or ellipses. They are formed by the interaction of ions with Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere, resulting in the unique and ever-changing shapes we see in the sky.
- #2
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I've never heard of auroras occurring in geometrically regular shapes. What makes you think they do? Have you ever looked at pictures of them? Did you see any geometrically regular shapes?RICKYtan said:
- #3
anorlunda
Staff Emeritus
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I think he means as seen from space.
Yes they do. See the attached picture.
Yes they do. See the attached picture.
- #4
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Ah. Good point. I've never seen them from spaceanorlunda said:
- #5
anorlunda
Staff Emeritus
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I should have said mostly circular, not all circular.
- #6
anorlunda
Staff Emeritus
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Even cooler, this picture is an aurora on Saturn
- #7
Electron Spin
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Would it be safe to say that the viewed circular ionized particles follow the concentric concentration of magnetic lines of the planet poles and hence more flux density, visuals, closer to the poles?
- #8
anorlunda
Staff Emeritus
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https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora
There are many interesting things to learn about Aurora. I recommend reading the entire wiki article.
There are many interesting things to learn about Aurora. I recommend reading the entire wiki article.
- #9
Khashishi
Science Advisor
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The Earth's magnetic field is very similar to a bar magnet. Ions (such as from the solar wind, or other cosmic events) are confined to magnetic field lines by the Lorentz force, which causes them to gyrate around magnetic field lines. The ions are guided by the magnetic field lines to the poles of the Earth, where the magnetic field lines penetrate the Earth's atmosphere.
1. What causes auroras to form in circles?
Auroras are caused by particles from the sun colliding with gases in Earth's atmosphere, mainly oxygen and nitrogen. The collisions cause energy to be released in the form of light, resulting in the beautiful aurora displays we see in the sky. The circular shape is due to Earth's magnetic field, which guides the charged particles towards the poles.
2. Are all auroras the same shape?
No, auroras can take on various shapes such as arcs, curtains, and spirals, depending on the angle at which the charged particles enter Earth's atmosphere. However, the circular shape is the most commonly observed due to the alignment of Earth's magnetic field.
3. Can auroras occur in other parts of the world besides the poles?
Yes, although the most well-known and frequent auroras occur near the Earth's polar regions, they can also be seen in other parts of the world, such as Canada, the northern United States, and parts of Europe and Asia. This is known as the "aurora oval", which is the region where the charged particles are most likely to collide with the atmosphere.
4. Why are auroras only visible at night?
Auroras are only visible at night because they require darkness in order to be seen. During daylight hours, the sunlight can overpower the faint light emitted by the auroras. In addition, the charged particles that cause the auroras are constantly present in Earth's atmosphere, but are only visible at night when the sky is dark.
5. Are there different colors of auroras?
Yes, there are different colors of auroras, including green, blue, purple, and even red. The color of an aurora depends on the type of gas that is being excited by the charged particles, as well as the altitude at which the particles are colliding. Oxygen produces green and red auroras, while nitrogen produces blue and purple auroras.
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