Why the northern lights happen

Chapter 1

The solar engine

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Answer

Chapter 2

Earth's magnetic shield

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Chapter 3

The atmospheric neon sign

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Chapter 4

Global legends and sister lights

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YOUR GOAL

Master of Why the northern lights happen

Ch 1 · The solar engine

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teacher Sunspots and solar cycles

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teacher The invisible solar wind

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The solar engine

teacher The solar engine

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teacher The Sun's stormy surface

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teacher Coronal mass ejections

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teacher The Solar Engine

Solar winds blow, Earth's shield starts to glow, green lights paint the snow

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Sunspots and solar cycles

teacher Sunspots and solar cycles

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Fun Fact

Solar speed: Solar wind particles travel from the Sun to Earth at speeds exceeding one million miles per hour.

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The invisible solar wind

teacher The invisible solar wind

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Quiz

How long does it typically take for solar wind particles to travel from the Sun to Earth?

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Gossip

Would you travel to space to see a solar flare up close?

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Quiz

What happens to the frequency of auroras during a solar maximum?

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Quiz

What are the cooler, highly magnetic dark patches on the Sun's surface called?

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Quiz

What is the primary source of energy and particles that cause the northern lights?

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Quiz

What is the name of the cycle that dictates how active the Sun is over time?

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Quiz

Which particles make up the majority of the solar wind?

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Quiz

Approximately how fast can the solar wind travel through space?

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Quiz

What does the scientific abbreviation CME stand for in solar physics?