Aurora Borealis (northern lights) display over silhouetted trees. At lower left is the comet Ikeya-Zhang (visible as a vertical white smudge just above and right of the bright orange star Mirach,or Beta Andromedae). The aurora borealis is caused by energetic particles from the Sun (the solar wind) interacting with gases high in the Earth's atmosphere,causing them to emit light. The Earth's magnetic field channels the solar particles towards the poles,and most aurorae are seen from polar regions. Comet Ikeya-Zhang was visible in spring 2002 from the northern hemisphere. Photographed on 31st March 2002 from Finland | |
Licence : | Droits gérés |
Crédit: | Science Photo Library / PEKKA PARVIAINEN |
Taille de l’image : | 5300 px × 3600 px |
Model Release : | Non requis |
Property Release : | Non requis |
Restrictions : | - |