"Aurora Borealis"
or
"The Northern Lights"
The Aurora Borealis means "dawn of the North", and is a solar powered light show that occurs in the earth's upper atmosphere when charged particles from the sun collide with gas molecules.
The northern lights occur most intensely in an oval band that stretches across Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Norway and Siberia.
Most of the state of Alaska is within the 'Auroral zone'. However, the best views are in Fairbanks, Alaska. The northern lights actually occur throughout the year, but can only be seen when the night is particularly dark, thus the best nights for viewing are dark winter nights.
The most common color is a pale yellowish green and can vary to red, blue and purplish-red. Gernerally viewed as long uniform bands stretching along the horizon, but may develop vertical bars or rays, that give the appearance of waving curtains.
