Brilliant Auroras Around the Globe

The aurora borealis shines above the Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall in western Iceland. The country's location and low light pollution means visitors can catch views of the northern lights eight months out of the year.

Auroras occur when bursts of charged particles from the sun buffet Earth. Some of those particles become trapped in our planet’s magnetic field and rush toward the poles, where they slam into the atmosphere. When these particles strike molecules in the air, they kick up their energy levels, and the excited molecules then emit the extra energy as brilliant streamers of light.

Video by Simon Skafar, Getty Images

Colorful lights from the aurora borealis flicker above Keflavík, Iceland. The hue of the northern lights depends on the composition of molecules in the atmosphere: green from high-energy oxygen, red from low-energy oxygen, and blue from nitrogen.

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The aurora borealis emerges in front of the stars in this time-lapse from Russia's frozen Lake Baikal. Located near the country's southeast border, the massive freshwater lake is a popular stargazing spot.

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A blue and green aurora shines from behind the clouds in Norway's Lofoten islands. The northern lights have been a consistent source of inspiration for art, music, and mythology in the country.

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A river in Ontario, Canada, flows beneath the glowing lights of the aurora borealis. Though northern regions of Canada can experience year-round auroras, views of the phenomenon occur further south when the solar wind is stronger.

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The aurora australis rolls over the Indian Ocean in this time-lapse taken from the International Space Station. The southern lights mostly hover over the ocean, but can sometimes be seen in Australia, New Zealand, and Chile.

Video by Onyx Media, Getty Images