Few things compare to seeing the northern lights paint the night sky. This quiz looks at the science, history, and legends behind the aurora borealis.
You will see questions about solar wind, atmospheric gases, and local folklore. Some questions are straightforward, while others ask you to remember small details about altitudes and planetary physics.
When you finish, try our quizzes on natural wonders, read up on stunning mountains and landscapes, or discover some odd facts with our travel curiosities quiz.
What is a common name used to refer to the aurora borealis?
Midnight Sun
Midnight Sun
Solar Flares
Solar Flares
Southern Cross
Southern Cross
Northern Lights
Northern Lights
The particles that cause the aurora originate from which object?
Sun
Sun
Moon
Moon
Volcanoes
Volcanoes
Stars
Stars
Where on Earth are the aurora borealis most commonly visible?
Mid-latitude deserts
Mid-latitude deserts
High-latitude regions near the poles
High-latitude regions near the poles
Coastal tropical islands
Coastal tropical islands
The Equator
The Equator
What is the most frequently observed color in the aurora borealis?
Red
Red
Green
Green
Blue
Blue
Yellow
Yellow
Which of the following locations is well-known for viewing the aurora borealis?
Alaska
Alaska
London
London
Mexico City
Mexico City
Cairo
Cairo
In which layer of the Earth environment do solar particles interact to create lights?
Earth’s atmosphere
Earth’s atmosphere
Space debris collisions
Space debris collisions
The Moon’s gravity
The Moon’s gravity
Mars’ orbit
Mars’ orbit
Approximately how long is the solar cycle of activity that influences aurora intensity?
5 years
5 years
11 years
11 years
17 years
17 years
23 years
23 years
Which Earth feature helps steer solar particles toward the poles?
Carbon emission levels
Carbon emission levels
Gravitational pull
Gravitational pull
Magnetic field
Magnetic field
Ozone depletion
Ozone depletion
In many Inuit legends, what were the northern lights often believed to be?
Reflection of glaciers
Reflection of glaciers
Fire in the sky
Fire in the sky
Light from whale blowholes
Light from whale blowholes
Dancing spirits of ancestors
Dancing spirits of ancestors
Which gas is primarily responsible for the common green and red colors in the aurora?
Helium
Helium
Oxygen
Oxygen
Carbon Dioxide
Carbon Dioxide
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
At what approximate altitude range do most aurora displays occur?
550 to 1,000 km
550 to 1,000 km
1,500 to 3,000 km
1,500 to 3,000 km
80 to 500 km
80 to 500 km
10 to 50 km
10 to 50 km
Which Latin term, meaning ‘southern’, is used to describe the southern lights?
Borealis
Borealis
Australis
Australis
Orientalis
Orientalis
Occidentalis
Occidentalis
Why are auroras generally not observed on the Moon?
It is too cold
It is too cold
There is no atmosphere for solar particles to collide with
There is no atmosphere for solar particles to collide with
The solar wind is blocked by other planets
The solar wind is blocked by other planets
The Moon has too strong of a magnetic field
The Moon has too strong of a magnetic field
What phenomenon on the Sun is a major driver of intense, widespread aurora displays?
Total eclipses
Total eclipses
Comet tails
Comet tails
Solar core fusion
Solar core fusion
Solar flares
Solar flares
Which atmospheric gas is responsible for producing the purple and blue hues at the bottom of an aurora?
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide
Nitrogen molecules
Nitrogen molecules
Argon gas
Argon gas
Oxygen atoms
Oxygen atoms
Why is the aurora usually best viewed at night?
The aurora cancels out sunlight
The aurora cancels out sunlight
The sun is invisible at night
The sun is invisible at night
The lights require darkness to be clearly visible against the sky
The lights require darkness to be clearly visible against the sky
The aurora is a daytime phenomenon only
The aurora is a daytime phenomenon only
Which of these gas giant planets is known to have the most powerful auroral displays in the solar system?
Venus
Venus
Jupiter
Jupiter
The Moon
The Moon
Mercury
Mercury
What is the source of the continuous stream of plasma called the solar wind?
Interstellar dust clouds
Interstellar dust clouds
The sun’s atmosphere (corona)
The sun’s atmosphere (corona)
Atmospheric lightning strikes
Atmospheric lightning strikes
The Earth’s crust
The Earth’s crust
Which scale is commonly used to forecast the intensity of magnetic activity for aurora viewing?
Kp-index
Kp-index
Celsius scale
Celsius scale
Richter scale
Richter scale
Beaufort scale
Beaufort scale
The ‘Russell-McPherron effect’ suggests what about the timing of geomagnetic activity?
It occurs only during the winter solstice
It occurs only during the winter solstice
It happens exclusively during a solar eclipse
It happens exclusively during a solar eclipse
It only occurs during a full moon
It only occurs during a full moon
It occurs near the vernal and autumnal equinoxes
It occurs near the vernal and autumnal equinoxes
Which of the following describes a traditional Norse belief about the aurora?
Roman legends depicted them as a battle between ancient emperors
Roman legends depicted them as a battle between ancient emperors
Vikings regarded them as the reflection of Valkyrie armor
Vikings regarded them as the reflection of Valkyrie armor
Ancient Greeks saw them as the chariot of the sun god Helios
Ancient Greeks saw them as the chariot of the sun god Helios
Aztec myths described them as spirits of fallen warriors returning to Earth
Aztec myths described them as spirits of fallen warriors returning to Earth
How did scientists first confirm that auroras were caused by solar particle interaction?
High-altitude rocket flights in the 1950s
High-altitude rocket flights in the 1950s
Space-based satellite observations in the 1960s onward
Space-based satellite observations in the 1960s onward
Deep atmosphere balloon soundings in the 1930s
Deep atmosphere balloon soundings in the 1930s
Ground-based radar experiments in the 1940s
Ground-based radar experiments in the 1940s
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