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Credit: Stephen Barnes, Sky Optics
Explanation:
A solar storm
overtook the Earth on August 26th. The
Earth
survived unscathed, as usual, although many
northerners reported an impressive display of aurora.
Many of these
auroras changed rapidly,
with patterns appearing and disappearing
sometimes in less than a second.
Out away from city lights, observers also reported an
unusually spectacular array of colors.
Some of these colors were captured in the
photograph above.
Solar particles that strike
oxygen high in Earth's atmosphere cause rare, red
auroras, while oxygen lower to the ground
will glow a more familiar green. Ionized
nitrogen glows blue or red.
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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 - Earth - atmosphere
Publications with words: aurora - Earth - atmosphere
See also: