polar lights

American  

noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. the aurora borealis in the Northern Hemisphere or the aurora australis in the Southern Hemisphere.

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polar lights British  

plural noun

1. the aurora borealis in the N hemisphere or the aurora australis in the S hemisphere

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Example Sentences

By studying rare observations of the gas giant’s polar lights, scientists helmed by William Dunn and Andrew Coates at University College London found that the northern and southern auroras brightened and faded completely independently from one another.

From The Verge

"Where the polar lights are seen, that's the region with the most geomagnetic disruptions on the Earth's surface," Dr Vanselow told BBC News.

From BBC

When they hit the Earth's upper atmosphere, they produce the spectacular displays of the polar lights over the Arctic, however the most powerful storms can also damage communications systems and satellites.

From BBC

ConocoPhillips was an early adopter with its Polar Lights project, which began in 1994 amid the euphoria of U.S.-Russia collaboration.

From Salon

Earth’s polar lights are triggered by solar storms, which occur when a cloud of gas from the sun encounters the planet’s magnetic field.

From US News