Artic Ocean. (November 28, 2024): What attracts a lot of young folks to join the military is the promise to visit exotic places and see unusual sights. In the above photo, Sailors aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Stratton are given a front row seat to one of nature’s most striking light displays, the Northern Lights. Also called the Aurora Borealis, the Northern Lights have mesmerized mariners as far back as ancient times.

The phenomenon occurs when a solar storm emanating from the Sun showers the Earth with small particles that interact with gases in our atmosphere. These storms are caused by solar flares (explosions on the surface of the Sun) or coronal mass ejections (ejected huge gas bubbles) that generate particles that are carried to earth by “solar winds” travelling at the speed of light. Thankfully, the Earth’s protective magnetic field shields us from these particles to the extent that most of us don’t even notice them.

When these highly charged particles reach Earth, they interact with gases in our atmosphere resulting in beautiful displays of light in the sky. The two primary gases in the Earth's atmosphere are nitrogen and oxygen, and these elements give off different colors during an aurora display. The green we see in the aurora is characteristic of oxygen, while hints of purple, blue or pink are caused by nitrogen.

The Northern lights can take many different forms. It can appear as a colorful belt across the sky or in great arcs spanning the horizon. Other auroral arcs appear like clouds while still others appear as flames burning across the sky. For Sailors at sea, these displays of bright green, red, and purple are truly awe inspiring. Finally, auroras are not limited to planet Earth. Scientists have concluded that any planet that has an atmosphere probably has their own version of the Northern Lights. Recent NASA flybys of Jupiter and Saturn have revealed spectacular auroras that rival that of Earths.

Regardless of the science, the Sailors aboard the Stratton are treated to a once of a lifetime light display they will cherish for the rest of their lives.