What causes auroras to occur?

Auroras are caused by interactions between charged particles from the Sun and Earth’s magnetic field. When solar winds collide with Earth’s magnetosphere, particles like electrons and protons are directed towards the polar regions. These particles collide with gases in the atmosphere, such as oxygen and nitrogen, releasing energy in the form of light. The colours of the auroras depend on the type of gas and altitude of the collision. Green and red are typically produced by oxygen, while nitrogen creates blue or purple hues. Auroras are a mesmerising display of the Sun’s influence on Earth.