Exploring the science of auroras with junior secondary students

The auroras over the weekend are a great opportunity to discuss the Earth’s magnetic field, and even magnets in general, with junior Science students.

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Other ideas to explore auroras with students
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• Have students check out the space weather forecast regularly because space weather is very hard to predict to see when the next one might be
  • The Sun has a cycle of storms: it has more frequent storms every 11 years, which is called the solar maximum. When the Sun is near solar maximum, auroras are more likely to happen. The next solar maximum is predicted to be in late 2024 or early 2025, so we will have more and more auroras to watch over the next few years.
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• Host a competition for best aurora photos
  • Students might want to know the reason aurora colours look better in photographs than to the naked eye. You can get them to research the reasons or explain it to them.
    
    
    1. Human eye sensitivity: Human eyes have limited sensitivity in low-light conditions, especially for colour perception. Rod cells, which dominate our night vision, don't detect colours well. Cone cells, responsible for colour vision, function best in brighter light. Hence, under the dim lighting of an aurora, our eyes may not capture the full spectrum of colours that a camera can.
    2. Long exposure photography: Cameras photographing auroras typically use long exposure settings. This means the camera’s sensor is exposed to light for much longer than the brief moment you look at the sky, allowing it to capture more light and colour. This results in images that are brighter and more colourful.
    3. Image processing: Cameras and smartphones automatically enhance images to improve sharpness, brightness, and colour. This processing can make the colours appear more vibrant than what you see with your eyes. Additionally, post-processing with photo editing software can further intensify these colours.‍
    4. Camera sensitivity and range: Cameras, particularly those with sensors optimised for low light and high dynamic range (HDR), can detect and record colours at a broader and more intense spectrum than the human eye in the dark, capturing the aurora’s deep purples, greens, and reds more effectively.

• Research and write a story or informative piece for space go-ers
  • What might it be like for spacecraft/astronauts to be in space during a geomagnetic storm?   There's more radiation, and drag during these events which can be very dangerous! 
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• Research all the pretty colours and why they occur
  • The colour of the aurora depends on which gas is being excited by the electrons and on how much energy is being exchanged. This would be a great topic for deeper investigation by students, and moves more into chemistry than physics, exploring the links between different branches of science.
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Click here to get free access to Year 7-10 resources

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