Bob got the chance to go to Alaska in September 2024 to try and see the aurora borealis, aka northern lights. He stayed with his group at the Borealis Base Camp north of Fairbanks. Most of the days during his visit were overcast, but fortunately the second and third nights of his stay cleared up enough that he was treated to a spectacular display.
This photo is of the aurora looking like a green curtain in the sky. The igloo in the lower left corner happened to be lit by a car's headlights as it was driving in among the igloo accommodations for visitors, while the shutter on Bob's camera was open. It was a happy accident that helped light paint the scene.
Auroras occur when charged particles from the sun strike the Earth's atmosphere and are directed toward both the north and south poles by the Earth's magnetosphere. These charged particles energize oxygen and nitrogen molecules causing them to glow. Around the South Pole, the southern lights are also called aurora australis.
Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story.
