The First Aurora

She came to visit on August 15th, a rarity this early. Caused by the interaction of particles from the sun with the upper atmosphere near the North Pole, she dances across the sky and causes everyone to freeze and stare. Many traffic accidents can be attributed to the appearance of AB. On the South Pole she's called Aurora Australis, but that's far away and another blog altogether.

The Romans named their goddess of dawn Aurora, so that's how she got her name. Borealis has something to do with the north wind, slap them together and you have the official name for nothern lights. The eskimos believe that she is the result of torches held by spirits already in heaven guiding new spirits through the holes in the sky. Whatever the case, she's a definite sign that the sun is leaving, the winter is coming, and it's time to get out the wool clothes.