Suggested Searches

How Do the Sun and Earth’s Magnetospheres Interact to Cause Aurora by Rachel Geiter

An animated GIF showing a view of auroras from the international space station. The aurora appears like moving ribbons of green light snaking across the atmosphere at night.
Levels
  • Intermediate (6-8)
Material Type
  • Activity/Hands-on
  • Lesson Plan
Heliophysics Big Ideas
  • Big Idea 1.2 – The Sun is active…
NGSS
  • PS2 - Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions
Heliophysics Topics
  • Aurora
  • Coronal Mass Ejection
  • Magnetic Field
  • Magnetosphere
Heliophysics Missions
  • Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS)
  • ARTEMIS (THEMIS)
  • Sounding Rocket
Material Cost per Learner Free
Language English

In this 5E middle school lesson, students diagram how magnetosphere and solar wind interact, model the magnetosphere, and explain the relationship between CME (space weather) and visibility of Aurora.

Learn more at: https://outreach.gi.alaska.edu/nasa-heliophysics/heliophysics/how-do-sun-and-earths-magnetospheres-interact-cause-aurora-rachel