The Northern Lights are created as a result of collisions between gaseous particles in the Earth's atmosphere and charged particles released by the sun, according to the Northern Lights Space and Science Centre in Canada. Variations in color are due to the type of gas particles that are colliding.
The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, shine over the Sycamore Gap at Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland, northeast England early Monday March 7, 2016.
The Aurora Borealis begin to flare up with green, yellow and pink hues near the Vedauwoo Recreation Area late Monday night between Cheyenne and Laramie, Wyo.
The Aurora Borealis fill the sky above the Takotna, Alaska checkpoint during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Wednesday, March 9, 2011.
The Aurora Borealis occur over Derwentwater, near Keswick, England, Thursday Oct. 8, 2015.