Northern Light Show

Brilliant splashes of color lit up the night skies across North America, as seen in this stunning photo of aurora borealis, better known as the "Northern Lights."


Auroras form when a "solar wind" of charged particles from the sun enters Earth's magnetic field, accelerating electrically charged particles trapped within. The high-speed particles then crash into Earth's upper atmosphere over the polar regions, causing the atmosphere to emit a ghostly, multicolored glow.


NOTE: This image is copyrighted. Contact Mark Urwiller for usage inquiries.


Last Update: 27 Sept 2011 (AMB)

Credit: Mark Urwiller