ScienceJuly 4, 2026

aurora

/əˈrɔːrə/

Definition

A natural light display in the Earth's sky, predominantly seen in high-latitude regions, caused by the collision of solar wind and magnetospheric charged particles with the high-altitude atmosphere.

Etymology

The word comes from the Latin 'aurora,' meaning 'dawn.' It was named after the Roman goddess of the dawn because the lights often appear as a colorful glow on the horizon resembling sunrise.

In the news

In the article, the term refers to the colorful light displays anticipated in the night sky as a result of recent solar eruptions reaching Earth. It is used to describe the visual aftermath of space weather events.

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