How do the Northern Lights work?

Answer 1

They're caused by ionizing radiation from the Solar Wind whifh is guided down the Earths magnetic field and strikes the atmosphere about 20 miles or so up and causes it to glow. Kinda like the gasses in a neon sign. There's also a 'Southern Lights' caused by the same phenomenon.

Doug

Answer 2

Both the nor then and southern are caused by a stream of particles from the solar winds. The solar winds have ionized particles in it and the beta particles attract to the north pole making it negative. The alfa particles are attracted to the south pole and make it positive. When the sun id very active they cause there the nor then lights or the southern lights.

Answer 3

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora_%28astronomy%29