An electron interacts with neutral atoms and causes light of various colours to be emitted. What happens when the aurora brightens is particles that start at the sun - and most of these are electrons - are brought by solar winds towards the Earth and guided by the Earth's magnetic poles. When the particles interact with the Earth's atmosphere, they excite molecules already there, and they emit light. The colour of that light is dependent upon which gases in the Earth's atmosphere - oxygen, nitrogen, or some other - are being excited. And when the solar winds are stronger and more 'gusty', the auroras will be more brilliant.
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