APOD: 2023 August 15 Б A Triply Glowing Night Sky over Iceland
Explanation:
The Sun is
not the quiet place it seems.
It
expels an unsteady stream of energetic
electrons and
protons known as the
solar wind.
These charged particles deform the
Earth's magnetosphere, change paths, and collide with atoms in
Earth's atmosphere,
causing the generation of light in
auroras like that visible in
green
in the image left.
Earth itself is also
geologically active and covered with
volcanoes.
For example,
Fagradalsfjall volcano in
Iceland,
seen emitting hot gas in orange near the image center.
Iceland is one of the most
geologically active places on Earth.
On the far right is the
Svartsengi geothermal power plant which creates the famous human-made
Blue Lagoon, shown emitting white gas plumes.
The featured composition therefore highlights three different sky phenomena, including both natural and
human-made phenomena.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
