Auroras, Different Views

Fall auroras, Northwest Territories, Canada (credit: NASA/Bluemoon Canada)

Auroras are typically viewed by looking up at the night sky. This is particularly true during the spring and autumn when an increase in solar (geo-magnetic) activity occurs. Fall displays can be especially brilliant in northern Canada and elsewhere in the Arctic. One powerful display was captured near Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories by intrepid skywatchers.

However, if you thought stunning Northern Lights (aurora borealis) were visible only from the ground, check out a photo-animation produced by the European Space Agency (ESA) or Norway's Auroras from space. Satellite observatories offer a spectacular vantage point to view auroras as they cross over the shimmering screens of green, red, and purple bands. WHB

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