NASA | Top Solar Discoveries: #3

The Thermos satellite fleet, launched in 2007, aimed to study triggers of substorms and atmospheric events like the Aurora borealis. A notable substorm in March 2008 revealed auroras with energy comparable to a moderate earthquake. NASA discovered that giant magnetic ropes, as wide as Earth, serve as conduits for solar wind particles, connecting the sun to Earth's upper atmosphere. These ropes, when formed and unraveled, ignite Earth's magnetic field, creating captivating auroras in the northern sky.

How do solar wind particles contribute to the spectacular display of the Northern Lights?

What historical significance do auroras hold for observers since ancient times?