aurora

Everyday

1. An aurora is a display of moving, coloured light (often green, pink or purple) in the night sky near the North or South Pole. tree →
2. The aurora borealis (northern lights) is seen in the north; the aurora australis (southern lights) in the south. tree →
3. Aurora is a girl's name (a name), the Roman goddess of the dawn, and the name of Sleeping Beauty in the Disney film. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons auroras happen when tiny charged particles from the Sun hit gases high in Earth's atmosphere and make them glow; Earth's magnetic field steers the particles towards the poles. People travel to Norway, Iceland, Canada, Scotland, Tasmania and New Zealand to see them. Phrases: aurora borealis, aurora australis, northern lights.

Examples

• We watched the green aurora dance across the sky in Norway. tree →
• The aurora borealis is also called the northern lights. tree →
• In Tasmania you can sometimes see the aurora australis. tree →
• An aurora happens when particles from the Sun hit our atmosphere. tree →
• Last night the aurora was visible even in Scotland. tree →
• Aurora is the Roman goddess of the dawn. tree →
• Princess Aurora is the heroine of «Sleeping Beauty». tree →
• She stood on the balcony and shone as the Aurora Borealis shines. tree →

Note

Plural auroras or aurorae. Pronounced uh-ROAR-uh. Auroras are best seen on dark, clear nights, far from city lights.