Ask anything.

What causes the polar lights to form?

Polar lights form when tiny particles from the Sun crash into gases in Earth's atmosphere.

The Sun is always sending tiny particles out into space. These particles rush toward Earth very fast. Earth has an invisible magnetic shield around it, called the magnetic field. This shield pushes most of the particles away, but it lets some sneak in near the poles.

When the particles enter our atmosphere, they crash into oxygen and nitrogen gases. During this crash, the gases gain energy and then release that energy as light. Oxygen makes green and red light, while nitrogen makes purple and blue light. This is how the colourful lights that dance in the sky are made.

This only happens near the North and South Poles. Near the North Pole, it is called the northern lights, and near the South Pole, it is called the southern lights. The lights look clearer when the sky is very dark and clear.

Quick facts

Polar lights form when particles from the Sun crash into the atmosphere.
Earth's magnetic field steers these particles toward the poles.
Oxygen gas makes green and red light.
Nitrogen gas makes purple and blue light.
The lights near the North Pole are called the northern lights, and near the South Pole, the southern lights.
These lights are best seen on dark, clear nights.

Check what you remember

4 questions — all of them come from the quick facts above. There is no score and no wrong turn.

1. What crashes together to make the polar lights?

2. What colour of light does oxygen gas make?

3. What steers the particles toward the poles?

4. When are the polar lights seen the most?

Where this comes from

1 nasa.gov 90/100
NASA
It has trustworthy facts and pictures about the Sun and space events.
2 britannica.com 80/100
Aurora - Britannica
It explains the science behind the polar lights and their colours.

☀️

Solar Wind

The tiny particles that keep flowing from the Sun are called solar wind. This wind spreads out in every direction in space. When it reaches Earth, it starts the polar lights.

🧲

Earth's Magnetic Field

Deep inside Earth, there is a region that acts like a giant magnet. This region makes an invisible shield. It steers harmful particles toward the poles.

💨

Atmosphere Gases

Our air has oxygen and nitrogen gases in it. When particles crash into these gases, light appears. Each gas gives off a different colour of light.

🧊

Polar Regions

Polar lights are seen most often near the North Pole and South Pole. These places are the coldest spots on Earth. Because the night sky is so dark there, the lights look even more beautiful.

ReKid™ is not just a search

The answer to the question is checked for accuracy before it is shown
An age-appropriate explanation of the topic, written to be read
A set of short facts about the topic
A set of short facts on subjects connected to the topic
A short quiz built from the topic, the facts and the connected facts
Up to five safe recommended links about the topic
PDF export, and every topic searched is kept
Everything from earlier keys carries over to a new key, complete
No advertising
No tracking
A knowledge support set that needs no personal account

Get a key at getrekid.com I have a key