Aurora refers to a natural light display occurring in Earth's upper atmosphere. This phenomenon is caused by charged particles from the Sun colliding with atoms in the atmosphere, specifically exciting oxygen and nitrogen to emit various colors including green, red, and purple.
The terminology for these displays depends on their geographic location. In high-latitude regions, they are known as polar lights or aurora polaris. Specifically, they are called northern lights or aurora borealis in the Arctic, while the term southern lights or aurora australis is used in the Antarctic. These displays often appear as dynamic patterns such as curtains, rays, spirals, or flickers that can cover the entire sky.