Credit & Copyright: Göran Strand
Explanation:
If you see this as a monster's face, don't panic.
It's only
pareidolia,
often experienced as the tendency to see faces in
patterns of light and shadow.
In fact, the startling visual scene is actually a 180 degree panorama of
Northern
Lights,
digitally mirrored like inkblots on a folded piece of paper.
Frames used to construct it were captured on
a September night from the
middle of a waterfall-crossing suspension bridge
in Jamtland, Sweden.
With geomagnetic storms triggered by
recent
solar activity,
auroral displays could be very active at
planet Earth's high latitudes in the coming days.
But if you see a monster's face in
your own
neighborhood
tomorrow night, it might just be Halloween.
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|
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: aurora
Publications with words: aurora
See also:
- APOD: 2024 January 14 Á Dragon Aurora over Iceland
- APOD: 2024 January 3 Á A SAR Arc from New Zealand
- APOD: 2023 December 12 Á Aurora and Milky Way over Norway
- The SAR and the Milky Way
- APOD: 2023 November 5 Á Creature Aurora Over Norway
- APOD: 2023 October 22 Á Ghost Aurora over Canada
- APOD: 2023 April 19 Á Auroral Storm over Lapland