Whether you’re watching the aurora borealis in the north or the aurora australis in the south, you’re seeing the same spectacle, caused by the solar wind hitting the Earth's magnetic field and producing currents of ions. Those ions collide with gas atoms in the atmosphere, creating extra energy that's released as photons. The result? Beautiful, cascading bands of light in the sky. #HostilePlanet is now streaming on Disney . | National Geographic Adventure

A timelapse of the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) as viewed from Mount Washington Observatory from 2330 EDT on 29 Sept through 0515 EDT on 30 Sept 2025. | Mount Washington Observatory