Flat Earthers shared a bizarre theory about what causes the Northern Lights

Flat Earth conspiracy theorists have their own - somewhat detailed - explanation of what causes the Northern Lights.

The Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis - the southern version - are wonders of the natural world, with thousands of people taking special trips to go and try and catch a glimpse of them.

And it could be good news if you have ever wanted to see them, as the Met Office said yesterday (10 November) that there’s a ‘good chance’ they could be visible in the UK.

They said: "We're expecting a coronal mass ejection to arrive at Earth later on Saturday or early on Sunday, bringing Moderate to Strong geomagnetic storms. Depending on cloud cover, there's a good chance of visible auroras in northern areas of the UK later on Saturday night."

The stunning natural light show has a fairly straight-forward explanation - sit tight for the science bit.

So, the Earth has a magnetic field that causes solar particles to be attracted to the poles. There, they are interspersed with nitrogen and oxygen particles which causes that lovely glow when colourful photons are released. Ta dah! It does take a bit of the romance and mystery away, but there we are.

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So now we know what causes them, right? But let’s not forget that some folks believe the Earth is flat and therefore the explanation isn’t correct.

So those people have had to come up with their own theory of what causes the phenomenon.

The official Flat Earth Society says: "On the Flat Earth the Aurora, also commonly referred to as the southern and northern lights, are a luminous atmoplanic phenomenon that generally appear as bright colourful bands of light. Auroras are often visible in the night sky in both the northern and southern hemidisks of the Earth.

"Auroras are believed to be caused by charged high energy particles from the solar winds that are trapped within the magnetic field of the Earth.

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As these charged particles spiral back and forth along the lines of the magnetic field, they become visible nearest to the north and south magnetic poles where these magnetic lines become vertical and interact with the atmoplane of the Earth."

They continue: "The bright visually pleasing colours commonly associated with auroras are the result of electrons colliding with oxygen and nitrogen molecules in the Earth's atmoplane. As these molecules become energized, then cool from their energised state, they emit actual light that can be seen by the naked human eye.

"Auroras, both the northern and southern lights, can most frequently and easily be seen during the winter months within a 2500 km radius of the vertical magnetic field lines. This area is also known as the auroral zone.”

Clear as mud, eh?

Topics: Weird, Conspiracy Theory, Environment, Travel, Science

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]