Rays from an Unexpected Aurora . ... Possibly more surprising, however, the aurora appeared to show an usual structure of green rays from some locations. In the above image , captured from North Dakota , USA , a picket fence of green rays stretches toward the horizon. ... Large sunspot groups indicate that activity from an active Sun is relatively likely, possibly causing other streams of energetic particles to cascade onto the Earth and so causing more auroras . ... NASA Official: Jay Norris. ...