Galileo first used the term "aurora borealis"
in 1619 to describe a glowing light he witnessed one evening on the distant
northern horizon. "Aurora borealis" is Latin for "northern"
(borealis) and "dawn" (aurora). This phenomenon is also commonly
referred to as the "northern lights".
Northern lights legends have been passed down through many generations of
storytellers. One native Alaskan tale describes how people who depart this
life will move on to various places in the hereafter… which place will
depend upon that individual's qualities such as character and generosity.
The highest level of heaven is within the aurora, where there are no storms
or snow… where all is bright and many animals can be easily caught.
The scientific explanation describes how auroras occur when energy from the sun
enters and excites gases within Earth's atmosphere. The energized gases then
give off light and glow. In order for solar energy to interact with the atmosphere,
it must first get through Earth's protective magnetic field. The field is
weakest at the north and south poles, which is why auroras most often occur
at high northern and southern latitudes (light displays in the southern hemisphere
are called "aurora australis").
Auroral color is determined by which particular atmospheric gas the solar energy is
interacting with and at what height in the atmosphere that interaction is
taking place. The most common color is green, however displays of yellow,
blue, purple and red can also be seen (red is very rare).
Regardless of the technical explanation, anyone fortunate enough to witness an auroral
display will identify with the native legend and be motivated to work on his
or her virtues of benevolence and charity.
For more detailed information on the aurora, visit these sites: