Auroral features come in many shapes and sizes. Tall arcs and rays start brightly 100 km above Earth's surface and extend upward along its magnetic field for hundreds of kilometres. Most of the features in the aurora borealis are greenish-yellow, though sometimes the tall rays will turn red at their tops and along their lower edge. In addition to producing exquisite displays of light, the energetic auroral particles deposit heat, most of which is dissipated by infrared radiation.

Most of the auroral features are greenish-yellow, but sometimes the tall rays will turn red at their tops and along their lower edge. In addition, the energetic auroral particles deposit heat, most of which is dissipated by infrared radiation.