Bar Magnet

Source: Wikimedia Commons

What is happening here?

Source: NASA

Earth’s Magnetic Field and Solar Wind

The Sun sends out a fast-moving wind of ions and electrons (particles), known as the solar wind particles. �

The solar wind particles head to Earth at about a million miles per hour and would slam right into the planet’s surface if it weren’t for Earth’s magnetic field.

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Earth’s magnetic field is called the magnetosphere and can change shape in response to solar wind.

Sun

Source: NASA

Solar Storms

But the Sun doesn't send the same amount of energy all the time. There is a constant streaming solar wind and there are also solar storms. During one kind of solar storm called a coronal mass ejection, the Sun burps out a huge bubble of electrified gas that can travel through space at high speeds.

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Source: NASA

Solar Storms

When a solar storm comes toward us, some of the energy and small particles can travel down the magnetic field lines at the North and South Poles into Earth's atmosphere.

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Source: NASA

Auroras

The solar particles collide and transfer energy to gases in our atmosphere, resulting in beautiful displays of light in the sky. Oxygen gives off green and red light. Nitrogen glows blue and purple.

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Source: NASA

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Auroras