aurorae
Sky's charged curtains
Aurorae is the Latin plural of aurora, used interchangeably with auroras to describe the luminous atmospheric phenomena that occur near Earth's polar regions.
Scientists and formal writers often prefer aurorae when discussing these displays of light caused by charged particles from the sun interacting with atmospheric gases.
The aurorae borealis visible from northern latitudes have inspired myths across cultures.
The singular aurora also refers to the Roman goddess of dawn.
Charged upper atmospheric layer
- magnetosphereCelestial body's protective field
- solar windContinuous stellar particle emission
- plasmaElectrified matter state
- charged particlesAtoms with net electricity
geomagnetic · excitation · emission · Birkeland currents · thermosphere · solar flares · space weather · magnetic field
Steady, soft light
- shimmerTremulous, wavering light
- curtainsHanging fabric window covers
- ribbonsNarrow fabric strips
- bandsMusical performing groups
arcs · rays · dancing lights · green glow · purple haze · pulsating · flickering · undulating
Ancient Italian religious narratives
- ValkyriesNorse battle maidens
- omenProphetic indicator
- ancestral spiritsSouls of deceased kin
- celestialOf the sky above
heavenly · ethereal · otherworldly · folklore · prophecy · reverence · wonder
Luminous polar phenomenon
- Southern LightsAntarctic atmospheric luminescence
- ArcticEarth's northernmost zone
- AntarcticSouthern polar region
- circumpolarAround the pole
high latitude · polar night · midnight sun · Scandinavia · Alaska · Iceland · Finland · Norway
ionosphere
Charged upper atmospheric layer
- magnetosphereCelestial body's protective field
- solar windContinuous stellar particle emission
- plasmaElectrified matter state
charged particles · geomagnetic · excitation · emission · Birkeland currents · thermosphere · solar flares · space weather · magnetic field · convection
glow
Steady, soft light
bands · arcs · rays · dancing lights · green glow · purple haze · pulsating · flickering · undulating · radiance
Roman mythology
Ancient Italian religious narratives
- ValkyriesNorse battle maidens
- omenProphetic indicator
- ancestral spiritsSouls of deceased kin
celestial · heavenly · ethereal · otherworldly · folklore · prophecy · reverence · wonder
Northern Lights
Luminous polar phenomenon
- Southern LightsAntarctic atmospheric luminescence
- ArcticEarth's northernmost zone
- AntarcticSouthern polar region
circumpolar · high latitude · polar night · midnight sun · Scandinavia · Alaska · Iceland · Finland · Norway · Svalbard
auroraemeteors
Luminous atmospheric debris
meteor showers · light pollution · artificial light · shooting stars · lightning
auroraedarkness
Total absence of light
blackness · dark skies · void · shadow · overcast skies
- aurora borealisHigh-latitude luminous sky phenomenon
- aurora australisAntarctic atmospheric light display