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Two illuminated teepees in a subarctic forest. Green bands of aurorae light up the sky.

Northern Lights - Teepees

image
Created for the OAE

Caption: Honorable mention in the 2023 IAU OAE Astrophotography Contest, category of Still images taken exclusively with smartphones/mobile devices. Taken with a smartphone at Cassidy Point, Yellowknife, Canada, on 24 March 2023, this stunning display captured the ethereal Northern Lights painting the night sky. The biting cold of -20°F (-29°C) set the stage for the vibrant hues of the Aurora Borealis, a celestial ballet created by collisions between charged solar particles and the Earth's atmosphere. The Earth’s magnetic field directs the charged particles towards the polar regions, where they interact with the various atoms and molecules in the atmosphere. This natural phenomenon transforms the sky into a canvas of radiant greens, pinks, and purples, casting a mesmerising glow above. The different colours of an aurora are determined by the gases in Earth’s atmosphere, the altitude where the aurora occurs, the density of the atmosphere, and the energy of the charged particles. In general, green is attributed to atomic oxygen, red is associated with high-altitude atomic oxygen and molecular nitrogen, while purple and blue are associated with molecular nitrogen only. Pink auroras are typically associated with a mix of nitrogen blue and red. Against this cosmic backdrop, the teepees of Aurora Village below provide a tranquil contrast to the celestial spectacle unfolding overhead. Preserving the pristine darkness of this location ensures the continued splendour of such awe-inspiring natural light shows.
Credit: Oanh Vuong/IAU OAE (CC BY 4.0)

Termes del glossari: Aurora , Geomagnetic Storm , Aurora Borealis
Categories: Naked Eye Astronomy , Planet Earth
Tags: astrophotography

License: Creative Commons Reconeixement 4.0 Internacional (CC BY 4.0) Creative Commons Reconeixement 4.0 Internacional (CC BY 4.0) icons

This file on Zenodo ( image 2.19 MB)


The sky rotates around one star that appears fixed. Bubbles and swirls of green aurorae fill the foreground

The Big Dipper in the Polar Night

video
Created for the OAE

Caption: Third place winner in the 2023 IAU OAE Astrophotography Contest, category of Time-lapses of rotation of Big Dipper or Southern Cross. Step into the cosmic theatre of Iceland’s northern skies in this time-lapse where the illustrious Big Dipper commands attention, tracing an almost complete circle around Polaris — an exquisite sight that is not visible from mid-latitudes. This time-lapse, captured through fisheye lenses, reveals the timeless choreography of the Big Dipper, vividly illustrating its celestial waltz. Amidst this spectacle, the Arctic night reveals its grandeur, painting a panoramic canvas that showcases not just the celestial journey of this iconic asterism but also the ethereal dance of the Northern Lights. In this breathtaking tapestry, the Big Dipper takes centre stage against the mesmerising backdrop of the Icelandic nightscape, adorned by the vibrant hues of the Aurora Borealis.
Credit: Stephanie Ziyi Ye/IAU OAE (CC BY 4.0)

Termes del glossari: Aurora , Big Dipper , Polar Night , Aurora Borealis
Categories: Naked Eye Astronomy , Planet Earth
Tags: astrophotography

License: Creative Commons Reconeixement 4.0 Internacional (CC BY 4.0) Creative Commons Reconeixement 4.0 Internacional (CC BY 4.0) icons

This file on Zenodo ( video 164.96 MB)


Ripples of green light over a tree-lined horizon. Pillars of white light rise into the sky.

Northern Lights Color

image
Created for the OAE

Caption: Winner in the 2023 IAU OAE Astrophotography Contest, category of Still images taken exclusively with smartphones/mobile devices. This photograph taken with a smartphone captures the ethereal beauty of the Northern Lights at Cassidy Point, Yellowknife, NT, Canada on 24 March 2023, at temperatures well below freezing (–29°C). The mesmerising dance of the Aurora Borealis (Australis), commonly known as the Northern (Southern) Lights, paints the night sky in striking hues. The aurora is a natural phenomenon caused by charged particles from the Sun interacting with Earth’s atmosphere, and being redirected by Earth’s magnetic field towards the north and south polar regions. The charged particles excite atoms and molecules in the atmosphere, resulting in a light display that varies in colour and form. The different colours of an aurora are determined by the gases (atoms and molecules) in Earth's atmosphere, the altitude of the aurora, the density of the atmosphere, and the energy of the charged particles. In general, green is attributed to atomic oxygen, red is associated with high-altitude atomic oxygen and molecular nitrogen, while purple and blue are associated with molecular nitrogen only. Pink auroras are typically associated with a mix of nitrogen blue and red. On this particular night, the serene environment of Cassidy Point provided an unobstructed view of the lights.
Credit: Jason Johnson/IAU OAE (CC BY 4.0)

Termes del glossari: Aurora , Geomagnetic Storm , Aurora Borealis
Categories: Naked Eye Astronomy , Planet Earth
Tags: astrophotography

License: Creative Commons Reconeixement 4.0 Internacional (CC BY 4.0) Creative Commons Reconeixement 4.0 Internacional (CC BY 4.0) icons

This file on Zenodo ( image 3.18 MB)


A green wisp of light rises over an illuminated lighthouse

Fire of the Sky

image
Created for the OAE

Caption: Winner in the 2023 IAU OAE Astrophotography Contest, category of Still images taken exclusively with smartphones/mobile devices. In the serene landscapes of Lofoten, Norway on 28 March 2023, the sky was set ablaze by the aurora. The Northern (Southern) Lights, also known as aurorae, are natural light displays resulting from interactions between solar winds and Earth’s magnetic fields, as charged particles are redirected towards the north and south pole regions. In Norse legends, they are often depicted as a heavenly fire. In this scene, the celestial show is beautifully complemented by the silhouette of a lighthouse, as if the lighthouse ignited the mesmerising display overhead. Caught off-guard by this dazzling spectacle, the photographer swiftly captured the moment with a smartphone. This is a testament to the breathtaking surprises nature offers and the impressive capabilities of modern devices.
Credit: Stephanie Ziyi Ye/IAU OAE (CC BY 4.0)

Termes del glossari: Aurora , Geomagnetic Storm , Aurora Borealis
Categories: Naked Eye Astronomy
Tags: astrophotography

License: Creative Commons Reconeixement 4.0 Internacional (CC BY 4.0) Creative Commons Reconeixement 4.0 Internacional (CC BY 4.0) icons

This file on Zenodo ( image 1.67 MB)


Wavy horizontal green bands, punctuated by dark vertical stripes. almost appear to rain down on a watery landscape

Iceland aurora, by Emanuele Balboni, Italy

image
Created for the OAE

Caption: Third place in the 2021 IAU OAE Astrophotography Contest, category Aurorae (still images) The blurred motions of the aurora caught during the exposure time of this photograph beautifully illustrate its dynamic nature. While certain forms of aurorae, like homogeneous arcs and bands or diffuse glows, can remain static for hours, others, like rayed arcs or bands (also called "curtains"), can change within seconds in shape and brightness.
Credit: Emanuele Balboni/IAU OAE

Termes del glossari: Aurora , Geomagnetic Storm , Aurora Borealis
Categories: Naked Eye Astronomy

License: Creative Commons Reconeixement 4.0 Internacional (CC BY 4.0) Creative Commons Reconeixement 4.0 Internacional (CC BY 4.0) icons

This file on Zenodo ( image 867.38 kB)


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