Humans have watched displays of the Northern Lights in awe for centuries. Some cultures thought these colorful curtains of light arose as sparks created by the tail of an Arctic fox or from epic battles in the night sky. The Sámi of northernmost Europe call it “the light you can hear.” But, as Sky & Telescope senior editor J. Kelly Beatty explains, only recently have scientists been able to fully understand how and why auroras exist. He explores the fanciful explanations for these dancing curtains of light, how powerful bursts from the sun create them, and when and where you're most likely to see an auroral display.
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