What are aurora and airglow?

Aurora and airglow are the upper atmospheric phenomena produced by different physical processes.

Nighttime airglow or nightglow effect is produced due to the chemical interactions of gas molecules such as oxygen and nitrogen present in the upper atmosphere.

While the aurora phenomenon is produced due to the interaction of solar energy and the magnetic field of Earth.

The above amazing picture is clicked by an astronaut from the International Space Station, which shows the intersection of wavy green, red-topped wisps of aurora with a muted red-yellow band of airglow.

Professor Atom

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Professor Atom is a science enthusiast and alumni of IIT Bombay. According to him, every question can be solved with curiosity and mind mapping. ( Curiosity = Asking Questions = Learning )

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