April Aurora Above Quebec

Provided by: Philippe Moussette
Summary authors & editors: Jim Foster; Philippe Moussette

The beguiling aurora above was taken on April 23, 2006, from near Parc des Laurentides, Québec, Canada. The aurora borealis (northern lights) result when charged particles emanating from the Sun are captured by the Earth’s magnetic field. As these particles spiral down toward the north and south poles, they collide with nitrogen and oxygen in the Earth's upper atmosphere, and upon doing so typically emit green light -- less frequently red light is emitted. [Revised May 2017]

Photo Details: Canon 20D camera, 30 seconds exposure, 1600 ASA, 17 mm, F4.

Related Links:

• Philippe's Website
• Space Weather
• Solar Terrestrial Dispatch
• The Auroral Oval Seen from Space
• Legends and Folklore of the Northern Lights
• Aurora Cams