http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090922.html
2009 September 22
Aurora Over Yellowknife
Credit & Copyright: Yuichi Takasaka(Blue Moon Promotions),TWAN
Explanation:
Sometimes, after your eyes adapt to the dark, a spectacular sky appears.In this case, apicturesque lakelies in front of you, beautiful greenauroras flap high above you,brilliant stars shine far in the distance, and a brilliant moon shinesjust ahead of you.This digitally fused panorama was captured earlier this month fromYellowknife,Northwest Territories,Canada, and includes thePleiadesopen cluster of stars just to the upper right of the Moon.Since aurora are ultimately started bysolar activity, this current flurry ofaurora is somewhat surprising, given the historiclack of sunspots and other activity on the Sun over the past two years.This time of year is known asaurora season, however, for noted average increases inauroras.The reason for the yearly increase is not known for sure, but possibly relates to thetilt of the Earth creating a more easily traversable connection between theEarth's magnetic field and the magnetic field of theSun's changing wind streams. |
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