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Astro*Dictionary by Michael Erlewine

 

 

 

 

3 articles for "Aurora"

Aurora Australis [Astro*Index]

The Southern Lights.

See also:
♦ Astronomy ♦ Magnetic Field ♦ Magnetism
Aurora Borealis [Astro*Index]

The Northern Lights. The brilliant displays of colored light in the sky at extreme northern and southern latitudes. The auroral displays are the result of gases in the upper atmosphere being stimulated by bombardment from charged particles and electrons which originate in the Sun — perhaps from solar flares. These solar particles find their way through the Earth's magnetic field at the poles, and funneling down, interact with atoms and ions in the Earth's atmosphere. The resulting ghostly light displays are called the northern (or southern) lights — Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis.

See also:
♦ Astronomy ♦ Magnetic Field ♦ Magnetism
Aurora Borealis / Northern Lights [DeVore]

Scientists associate the phenomena with unusual sun-spot activity, and astronomers are working on the theory that the sun-spot cycles, generally recognized as having some connection with economic trends, are the result of planetary movements. The most brilliant display of the Aurora Borealis in fifty years occurred on January 25, 1938. Transatlantic radio was interrupted and crowds in Holland, awaiting the birth of Princess Juliana's baby, cheered the display as a lucky omen for the little Princess Beatrix, who was born January 31, 1938, with 15° Aries on the Asc., and 6° Capricorn on the M.C. At this time Venus and the Sun were forming conjunctions with Jupiter, and Mars was forming a conjunction with Saturn.

See also:
♦ Astronomy ♦ Magnetic Field ♦ Magnetism

 

Astro*Index Copyright © 1997 Michael Erlewine