Astronomy Picture of the Day 10-31-02

NASA ^ | 10-31-02 | Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonnell

[petuniasevan]

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2002 October 31 Aurora in the Night Credit & Copyright: Juha Kinnunen

Explanation: For much of the month of October, traveling shock waves from the Sun and solar wind gusts have buffeted planet Earth's magnetosphere. As a result, skywatchers at high latitudes in the northern hemisphere were treated to many displays of the aurora borealis or northern lights. For example, on the first of October this particularly ghostly apparition was photographed looming above the horizon near the town of Inari in northern Finnish Lapland. But the solar wind is dying down for now. So if you just happen to be out tonight and you see such a specter haunting your skies ... it may not be an aurora. Have a safe and happy Halloween!

[petuniasevan]

I shouldn't still be up. 5 1/2 hours 'til I have to be up for work.

I just couldn't take the chance on FR being down in the AM again.

[petuniasevan]

[Mama_Bear]

I would love to see an Aurora Borealis, but I guess I will have to be satisfied with pictures. And this one is beautiful. Very halloweenish.

Thanks for the ping, petuniasevan.

[Graewoulf]

We appreciate your efforts. Thanks.

[RightWhale]

I would love to see an Aurora Borealis

It was out last night in the vicinity of the Big Dipper. Looked just like this image, green and slow. It is usually green as the image shows, but much paler, toward white. The other colors show up when the display is big and moving actively. You should move up here, since we are located directly under the aurora. -Fairbanks

[Mama_Bear]

You should move up here, since we are located directly under the aurora. -Fairbanks

Well, thank you so much for the invite, but I don't think so. You all are some rugged people who live up there in Alaska. This desert rat wouldn't last through a week of your winter! I visited Juneau in July a few years ago and was cold every minute I was there. LOL.

I will have to be content to enjoy your heavenly light shows in photographs.

[firewalk]

Thanks
for the ping

[sistergoldenhair]

Beautiful.
Thanks for the ping.
I always learn something new from APOD!