The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, are caused by interactions between the Earth's magnetic field and particles from the Sun. When solar storms eject electrons and protons from the Sun's surface, they travel through space and enter the Earth's atmosphere near the magnetic poles. There, the particles excite oxygen and nitrogen atoms in the atmosphere, causing them to glow in colorful patterns of light. These lights appear as veils, ribbons, or curtains and are centered around the magnetic north and south poles, extending further during times of strong solar activity. The temperature of the Sun's atmosphere reaches millions of degrees, causing hydrogen to break into electrons and protons. The solar wind carries this ionized plasma and the Sun's magnetic field outward into space