What phenomenon is described as a colorful, glowing display in the sky caused by particles from the sun?

The phenomenon characterized as a colorful, glowing display in the sky due to solar particles interacting with Earth’s atmosphere is known as the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights. This breathtaking natural light display occurs when charged particles from the solar wind collide with atmospheric gases, resulting in vibrant colors such as greens, reds, and purples. As these particles move along the Earth’s magnetic field lines, they excite the gas molecules in the atmosphere, producing light that can be seen in polar regions.

Understanding the other choices helps clarify why they do not fit this description. Rainbows occur when sunlight refracts, reflects, and disperses through water droplets, creating a spectrum of colors in the sky. Sunsets arise from the scattering of light due to atmospheric conditions, leading to warm shades of orange, pink, and red as the sun descends below the horizon. Halos are optical phenomena that form around the sun or moon due to ice crystals in the atmosphere, creating a ring-like appearance but not the vibrant display associated with the auroras. Thus, the Aurora Borealis uniquely represents the specific interaction between solar particles and the Earth’s atmosphere, resulting in its distinct and colorful glow.