Green curtains of the aurora borealis (Northern Lights) appeared in the skies over Alaska in this pair of photos from April 2001. Energetic particles (mostly electrons and protons) in Earth's magnetosphere collide with atoms in the upper atmosphere, adding energy to the atoms which they in turn emit as light. Oxygen atoms give off the green light seen in these two aurora photos.
Images courtesy of Jan Curtis.
These two photos show the aurora borealis (Northern Lights) over Alaska in March 2001. The green color of this aurora tells us something about it. The green glow comes from oxygen atoms in Earth's upper atmosphere.
Images courtesy of Jan Curtis.
These two photos show the aurora borealis (Northern Lights). These pictures were taken in Alaska in 2001. The green color of this aurora tells us something about it. The green glow comes from oxygen atoms in Earth's upper atmosphere.
Images courtesy of Jan Curtis.
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