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Astronomy Picture of the Day - Auroral Hummingbird over Norway
NASA ^ | 10 Feb, 2025 | Image Credit & Copyright: Mickael Coulon

Posted on 02/10/2025 12:43:36 PM PST by MtnClimber

Explanation: Is this the largest hummingbird ever? Although it may look like a popular fluttering nectarivore, what is pictured is actually a beautifully detailed and colorful aurora, complete with rays reminiscent of feathers. This aurora was so bright that it was visible to the unaided eye during blue hour -- just after sunset when the sky appears a darkening blue. However, the aurora only looked like a hummingbird through a sensitive camera able to pick up faint glows. As reds typically occurring higher in the Earth's atmosphere than the greens, the real 3D shape of this aurora would likely appear unfamiliar. Auroras are created when an explosion on the Sun causes high energy particles to flow into the Earth's atmosphere and excite atoms and molecules of nitrogen and oxygen. The featured image was captured about two weeks ago above Lyngseidt, Norway.


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; aurora; hummingbird; nasa
To be added or removed from the Astronomy Picture of the Day ping list please send me a request via "Private Reply" (Mail).

For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.

1 posted on 02/10/2025 12:43:36 PM PST by MtnClimber
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To: MtnClimber

2 posted on 02/10/2025 12:43:59 PM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: 21stCenturion; 21twelve; 4everontheRight; A Navy Vet; A_perfect_lady; abb; AFB-XYZ; AFPhys; ...
Pinging the APOD list

🪐 🌟 🌌 🍔

3 posted on 02/10/2025 12:44:55 PM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

There are pictures online of murmurations of starlings in the shapes of birds:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/incredible-image-shows-group-of-starlings-in-shape-of-giant-bird-daniel-biber-a8138216.html


4 posted on 02/10/2025 12:49:07 PM PST by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
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To: MtnClimber

I can stop filling the hummingbird feeder now


5 posted on 02/10/2025 12:49:14 PM PST by Cold Heart (Democrat party is indefensibly evil)
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To: MtnClimber

Wow - it looks real


6 posted on 02/10/2025 1:11:50 PM PST by Deaf and Discerning
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To: MtnClimber

So cool


7 posted on 02/10/2025 1:27:29 PM PST by NavyShoe
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To: MtnClimber

My parrot is jealous. Heh.


8 posted on 02/10/2025 1:39:37 PM PST by AFB-XYZ ( )
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To: MtnClimber

A very pretty image of sleeting death.


9 posted on 02/10/2025 1:41:31 PM PST by Seruzawa ("The Political left is the Garden of Eden of incompetence" - Marx the Smarter (Groucho))
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To: MtnClimber

That’s awesome and gorgeous.


10 posted on 02/10/2025 1:48:10 PM PST by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus)
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To: MtnClimber

A hummingbird? Or a Phoenix….


11 posted on 02/10/2025 5:11:54 PM PST by telescope115 (I NEED MY SPACE!!! 🔭)
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