Launchpad: Aurora Lights: Why They Exist and What Causes Them

Discover THEMIS probes NASA sent to space to gather more information about aurora lights found in the north and south poles on earth. Discover why these bright lights exist and what is causing them.

Background Information

Grades 9 through 12

• NASA About Auroras
• NASA The History of Events and Macroscale Interactions During Substorms (THEMIS)
• NASA THEMIS Understanding Space Weather

Activities

• NASA 3D Model of THEMIS
• Rice Space Institute Space Weather CD

Mathematics

Grades 6 through 8

• NASA Space Math Problem 11 How high is an aurora?
• NASA Space Math Problem 298: Seeing Solar Storms in STEREO - II

Grades 9 through 12

• NASA Space Math Problem 298: Seeing Solar Storms in STEREO - II
• NASA Space Math Problem 11 How high is an aurora?