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Credit & Copyright: Yuichi
Takasaka
(Blue Moon Promotions),
TWAN
Explanation:
Sometimes, after your eyes adapt to the dark, a spectacular sky appears.
In this case, a
picturesque lake
lies in front of you, beautiful green
auroras flap high above you,
brilliant stars shine far in the distance, and a brilliant moon shines
just ahead of you.
This digitally fused panorama
was captured earlier this month from
Yellowknife,
Northwest Territories,
Canada, and includes the
Pleiades
open cluster of stars just to the upper right of
the Moon.
Since aurora are ultimately started by
solar activity, this current flurry of
aurora is somewhat surprising, given the historic
lack of sunspots and other activity on the Sun over the
past two years.
This time of year is known as
aurora season, however, for noted average increases in
auroras.
The reason for the yearly increase is not known for sure, but possibly relates to
the
tilt of the
Earth creating a more easily traversable connection between the
Earth's magnetic
field and the magnetic field of the
Sun's changing wind streams.
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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: