The bright colors of the northern lights are dictated by the chemical composition of Earth's atmosphere. "Every type of atom or molecule, whether it's atomic hydrogen or a molecule like carbon ...

If you saw the northern lights — either with your own eyes or with the help of your phone — you may have noticed an array of colors. But what causes the different shades of greens, reds ...

You can also find out when you are most likely to see the northern lights with our aurora forecast, updated daily. The most common aurora color is green.

The northern lights surprise stargazers by appearing in many forms—from patches or scattered clouds, to streamers, arcs, rippling or dancing curtains. The lights move and change shape and color.