So what are theses little beauties all about? Well, the sun constantly emits a stream of ions that we call the solar wind. This solar wind flies through space at around one million mph. It’s attracted to the magnetism of our shiny blue planet and reaches us within 40 hours door to door. Our magnetic field forms an oddly shaped packet round the earth, called the magnetosphere, which protects us from the solar wind, but this protective sheet is weaker at the poles, so some gets through.

This dim glow was seen in Gloucestershire:

As the ions hit our atmosphere they start interacting with it. The different colours in the aurora are produced by photons (particles of light) that are released in the collisions between the sun’s wind and our atmosphere.

Here’s some jazzy photons having fun in Cumbria:

Photons are produced from ionized nitrogen atoms regaining an electron, and also when oxygen and nitrogen return to a ground (relaxed) state. Oxygen atoms involved in collisions produce green or browny red colours and nitrogen gives off blue as it regains an electron or red as it returns to the ground state. Got that?

Corbridge, Northumberland:

Here’s that physics in action in Boulmer, Northumberland:

Earth is amazing isn’t it? If you saw any northern light action last night or got any good pictures yourself let me know so I can be jealous of you too: @timboynewtron

☛ More Physics: The Sick Chirpse Half Arsed Guide To Quantum Physics