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Credit & Copyright: Ole Christian Salomonsen
Explanation:
Auroras can make spectacular sights.
Photographed above last weekend, flowing multi-colored auroras helped
illuminate a busy sky above
Tromsэ,
Norway.
Besides the
spectacular aurora pictured above,
the photographer caught three satellites streaks, one airplane streak, and a
friend trying to
capture
the same sight.
Although auroras might first appear to be moonlit clouds,
they only add light to the sky and do not
block background stars from view.
Called northern lights in the northern hemisphere,
auroras are caused by
collisions between
charged particles from the
magnetosphere
and air molecules high in the Earth's atmosphere.
If viewed from space, auroras can be
seen to glow in
X-ray and ultraviolet light as well.
Predictable auroras
might occur a few days after a
powerful magnetic event
has been seen on the Sun.
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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 borealis
Publications with words: aurora borealis
See also: