Why does auroras boreales have so many colors like a rainbow?
The aurora has many colors because there are different kinds of atoms in the atmosphere that are excited by electrons and ions from the magnetosphere. Each of the atoms can be excited to various levels and when the atoms emit auroral light, the higher energy levels, emit higher energy light. For example, red light is lower energy than purple light. The atmosphere is made up mostly of nitrogen, oxygen, and argon. There are smaller amounts of other gases, like helium. Each atom will emit its own colors. Dr.
