Auroras are a natural electrical phenomenon which is caused by the interaction of charged particles from the sun with atoms in the upper atmosphere. The Aurora Borealis or the Northern Lights are a spectacular light show in the Northern Hemisphere close to the magnetic pole. The same conditions that cause the Aurora Borealis in the north, are responsible for the Aurora Australis in the Southern Hemisphere.

Dr. Melanie Windridge is the author of the book ‘Aurora: In Search of the Northern Lights’. As per her the possibility of viewing the Aurora Australis from New Zealand is about as good as trying to view the Aurora Borealis from Scotland or England. Most people do not know of the Aurora Austalis as they occur mainly over the ocean. The best locations for sighting the Aurora Australis as per her, are in the Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, Ushuaia, and South Georgia Island.

The vibrant color display in the atmosphere is actually dependent on the composition of the air at the place. When the sun’s rays strike atoms in the atmosphere and cause the electrons to move into a high energy state, the color they emit depends on the type of molecule it is. Oxygen molecules give out green or red light, while nitrogen is responsible for the blue and purple shades. It would make an interesting science project to list just what color each gas molecule would emit at the high energy state.