How is the Auroral Discharge Powered?

The Aurora

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Above:   the solar corona observed during the solar eclipse on July 11, 1991

Below:  the solar corona and the earth's magnetic field		 The sun, a ball of hydrogen gas, is so hot because it is powered by nuclear fusion taking place at its core. Energy from the sun is released from its surface, which is called the photosphere. Like Earth, the sun has a few layers of atmosphere. The outermost part of the atmosphere, called the corona, is very hot, measuring more than one million degrees. The high temperature causes hydrogen atoms to split into protons and electrons. The resulting gas is called plasma, which is electrically conductive. The solar plasma is so hot that it blows away from the sun. This stream of plasma is called the solar wind, which blows throughout the entire solar system at a speed of about 500-1000 km/sec (300-600 miles/sec)

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