The Aurora borealis is a bright glow in a planet's atmosphere caused by charged particles colliding with the magnetic field. It can often be seen at night.
History and specifics
During the USS Enterprise's encounter with the galactic barrier in 2265, the barrier was described as being a monstrous version of the Terran borealis. (TOS novelization: Where No Man Has Gone Before)
In 2270, auroras could be seen in most of Earth's northern hemisphere, reaching south to Istanbul and Hong Kong, following the self destruction of Kukulkan's probe. (TAS - Log Six novelization: How Sharper Than a Serpent's Tooth)
The edges of the cloud surrounding V'Ger looked like gigantic aurora borealis effects. (TOS novelization: The Motion Picture)
Phaedra had a stunning aurora borealis, a result of the planet's fierce electromagnetism which reversed its magnetic poles erratically at up to 72.3 year intervals. (TNG novel: Grounded)
Green polar lights were visible in the night sky above the Winter Wonderland in 2410. (STO missions: "Fastest Game on Ice", "Tide of Ice")
Appendices
External links
- Aurora borealis article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.
- Aurora article at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.