What gives auroras their different colors?
Aurora are different colors because the Earth’s atmosphere has different elements in it. In particular, when a Nitrogen atom is excited, it gives us blue aurorae. Oxygen can give us red or green, depending on the amount of energy the atom is hit with. I hope this answers your question in sufficient detail. SCIENTIST: Doug Biesecker, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center QUESTION: What can the colors of auroras tell us about them? Rachell, Willard Middle School, Berkeley CA ANSWER: The color of aurorae tell us which elements are creating the beautiful colors. For example, when a nitrogen atom is excited in the atmosphere, it emits a blue light. Oxygen can give us either red or green light, depending on the amount of energy given to the oxygen atom. Other colors are sometimes created by combinations of these colors SCIENTIST: Doug Biesecker, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center QUESTION: How are auroras different colors at the same time? Darby, Lake Hazel Middle School, Idaho ANSWER: Hi Darby! Th
