Credit & Copyright: J. Curtis
(U. Alaska Fairbanks)
Explanation:
What's happening behind those trees?
Aurora. This picture was taken at midnight near
Fairbanks,
Alaska,
and captures familiar trees,
common clouds, and a glowing sky markedly different than a
sunset. Particularly strange is the green
auroral ring caused by ionized
oxygen high in the
Earth's atmosphere.
The small water droplets composing clouds reflect and absorb
aurora light, giving clouds a reddish tinge.
The above picture was taken on September 20th of last year.
In the next few years the
Sun will reach the most active part of its 11 year cycle, meaning more
puffs of
high energy solar particles will be released,
and more
spectacular auroras
will occur when these
particles strike the Earth.
January February March April May June July August September October November December |
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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