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Aurora Borealis

By TaylorAva

  • The Naming of the Northern Lights

    The Naming of the Northern Lights
    In 1621, a French scientist named Pierre Gassendi named the Aurora Borealis.

  • Northern Lights

    Northern Lights
    Greatest Aurora ever recorded that resulted from a geomagnetic storm. (Aug 28 - Sep 2, 1859)

  • "Father Of Modern Aurora Science"

    "Father Of Modern Aurora Science"
    Norwegian Kristian Birkeiand suggested that electrons from sunspots triggered Auroras.
  • Period: to

    B.C.-2013

  • Widespread Lights

    Widespread Lights
    On Feb 11, 1958, the Aurora Boreails lit up the sky. Stretching 1250 miles wide. The lights circled the Artic, from Oregon to New Hampshire- One of the most famous and widespread sightings of the Northern Lights ever recorded.

  • Lights seen in Cuba

    Lights seen in Cuba
    The Lights were seen in Europe and North America and as far as Cuba

  • Cycle

    Cycle
    The Northern Lights are on an 11 year cycle. The more solar activity will cause a bigger light/ Aurora. The Sun's activity will also affect the Aurora. The more restless the Sun, the bigger the Aurora.
    (the dates are unknown.)

  • NASA

    NASA
    In 2007, NASA helped scientists study the Aurora Borealis by launching a spacecraft into the substorms of 2007. This would hopefully help the scientists to understans how the lights occur. 5 sattelites were launched into Earth's magnetosphere to view the Aurora Borealis.

  • Observations

    Observations
    "Observations from the 2007 launch concluded that substorms are caused by magnetic reconnection. A process in which charged Sun particles compress the Earths magnetic field resulting in a change in shape. Sudden changes cause particles to be flung to the Earths poles resulting in substorms. These substorms increse the brightness and intensity of the Aurorae."
    Penlick, Daniel. "Auroral Storm Trigger Confirmed." Astronomy. Nov 8, 2008. Science in Context. Web. 10 Dec. 2013.

  • 2009

    2009
    The smallest Aurora was recorded in 2009.

  • Next Time

    Next Time
    In 2013, the next occurance of the Northern Lights.

  • 568 B.C

    568 B.C
    Earliest known account of Northern Lights appears to be from a Babylonian clay tablet from observations made by the official astronomers of King Nebuchandnezzar II.
    "So bright that you might have thought that day was aboout to dawn."