March 18, 2016 8-10PM

Event Type: Lecture and Stargazing
Title: What Causes the Northern Lights? A Tour of Aurorae on Different Planets
Lecturer: Sebastian Pineda
Position: Graduate Student
Institution: Caltech
Abstract:
One of the most beautiful natural phenomenon on Earth is the aurora, the bright and colorful ribbons and swirls in the sky seen near the Earth’s polar regions. These lights are usually green but can also be blue and a deep red. We will look at the causes of these magnificent lights, how they are produced, and what determines their colors. But Earth is not the only planet to show such spectacular displays. We will tour the Solar System to see the aurorae of Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, and learn how and why they differ from our own.