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From Away

Artwork by Thelma Newbury

Aurora Borealis over Marsh Lake, Yukon

450.


This has been a year of extreme season of "solar wind" (a stream of electrons, proton and helium nuclei). The solar wind usually strikes the outer atmosphere of the earth around the magnetic poles. The collision between solar wind and air causes the air molecules to radiate a glow. The green/yellow light occurs from oxygen atoms hit by solar wind. The red/blue/violet colours happen when nitrogen molecules meet the solar winds. I trust you will enjoy my piece, even if you don't get to see this phenomena.