Astronomy Picture of the Day -- October Aurora in Prairie Skies

NASA ^ | October 05, 2013 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

Explanation: Wind and spaceweather are transformed in this haunting night skyscape. The prairie windmill and colorful auroral display were captured on October 1, from central South Dakota, USA, as a good season for aurora hunters came with longer autumn nights. From green to rarer reddish hues, the northern lights are sparked by the geomagnetic storms caused by solar activity. These extend far above the cloud bank to altitudes well over 100 kilometers, against the backdrop of distant stars in the northern night. Visual double star Mizar, marking the middle of the Big Dipper's handle, is easy to spot at the left edge of the frame. The dipper's North Celestial Pole pointers Merak and Dubhe line up vertically near picture center.

[SunkenCiv]

[Credit & Copyright: Randy Halverson]

[SunkenCiv]

The Big One

join or quit list APoD 'blog post new APoD topic Astronomy Picture of the Day topic & keyword Astronomy Chat, Bloggers & keyword Science Chat, Bloggers & keyword NASA's APoD archive Calendar 1995-present APoD on your desktop

[cloudmountain]

FABULOUS photo!

[It Aint Easy]

Shouldn’t the picture show the message about a gov shutdown?!? :-)

[mylife]

Awesome!

[caveat emptor]

thanks

[seeker41]

Just amazing, the colors are stunning. Red is the rarest I think.

[mylife]

Thanks for the new desktop.

[SunkenCiv]

Shouldn’t the picture show the message about a gov shutdown?!? :-)

Heh, I will be trying out this temporary e-z post template reflecting the current backup (which is obviously more Obamanation BS). Thanks all.

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