Have you seen dancing lights in the sky recently? If so, you’re not alone! Many people across the U.S. have spotted the shimmering colors of an aurora over the past year. This phenomenon is caused by the sun, which sends electrons and other charged particles into the solar system. “It’s called space weather,” says NASA space physicist Elizabeth MacDonald.
These particles are swept to Earth’s North and South Poles, where they collide with our atmosphere and release energy in the form of colorful light. Usually, you have to travel close to the poles to see them.
But lately, auroras have been visible farther from the poles. Why? The sun has an 11-year cycle of high and low energy, and this year is the solar cycle’s peak activity. The result: a lot of space weather—and dazzling light shows around the globe!