Auroras

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/050608_mars_aurora.html

Britt, Robert Roy, Auroral Lights Discovered at Mars

Auroras are one of the many natural phenomenon that are visually appealing, of which somehow- someway I would like to incorporate into my work.  Also referred to as the Northern and Southern Lights, these luminous sensations generally appear as bright, colorful bands of light visible in both the northern and southern hemispheres of the Earth.  

It is believed that auroras are caused by charged high energy particles  from the solar winds.  These winds are trapped within the atmospheric magnetic field of the Earth.  When the charged particles spiral back and forth along the lines of this magnetic field, they become visible.  The colors are a result of electrons colliding with oxygen and nitrogen molecules in the atmosphere.  The molecules become energized, cool, and emit the actual light that can be seen by humans.  They are most commonly seen in winter months within a 2500km radius of the N and S magnetic poles, or the auroral zone.  It is kind of interesting to note that, as of May 2005 it has been observed that Auroras occur on Mars as well.