Posted on Jan 11, 2023
APOD: 2023 January 11 – Spiral Aurora over Iceland
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Good morning, Rallypoint, and welcome to the January 11th edition of Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD): "Spiral Aurora over Iceland." Gatklettur (aka the Hellnar Arch) is a naturally formed stone arch found between the villages of Arnarstapi and Hellnar on the northwest coast of Iceland. This spiral aurora was photographed over Gatklettur in November 2022. Multiple foreground and background exposures were captured from a single camera at a set location. The 'mist' over the rocks surrounding the stone arch was created by moving waves during each long exposure.
As you may know already, gases exist in their atomic (versus molecular) form at high levels in our atmosphere, and these gases interact with radiation from the Sun to produce an aurora. When atoms shed excess energy, they do so in the form of light at wavelengths that are particular to the atom itself. The colors in this aurora suggests that oxygen (green) is the primary agent. The purple 'fringe' to the auroral curtain is due to the presence of nitrogen.
As you may know already, gases exist in their atomic (versus molecular) form at high levels in our atmosphere, and these gases interact with radiation from the Sun to produce an aurora. When atoms shed excess energy, they do so in the form of light at wavelengths that are particular to the atom itself. The colors in this aurora suggests that oxygen (green) is the primary agent. The purple 'fringe' to the auroral curtain is due to the presence of nitrogen.
APOD: 2023 January 11 – Spiral Aurora over Iceland
Posted from apod.nasa.gov
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 5
Posted >1 y ago
Maj William W. 'Bill' Price good afternoon my friend, and good to see you on the RP net January 11, 2023 . I have said it many times before, yet I will say it again, "nobody does it better from above". Thank you for sharing Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD): "Spiral Aurora over Iceland."
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SSG Michael Noll Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Cpl Vic Burk SGT (Join to see)] Sgt (Join to see) SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM PV2 Larry Sellnow SPC Gary C. SPC (Join to see) Amn Dale Preisach SGT Ruben Lozada 1SG Paul Ayotte CPT Richard Trione SFC Ralph E Kelley 1SG Patrick Burke PV2 Scott Mollette SGT Gerald “Jerry” Harrell PO2 Marco Monsalve
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SSG Michael Noll Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Cpl Vic Burk SGT (Join to see)] Sgt (Join to see) SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM PV2 Larry Sellnow SPC Gary C. SPC (Join to see) Amn Dale Preisach SGT Ruben Lozada 1SG Paul Ayotte CPT Richard Trione SFC Ralph E Kelley 1SG Patrick Burke PV2 Scott Mollette SGT Gerald “Jerry” Harrell PO2 Marco Monsalve
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Posted >1 y ago
This photo appears to be very dark and merky!
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Maj William W. 'Bill' Price
>1 y
SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM Pull up the APOD page itself. That should help.
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Posted >1 y ago
An amazing photo of this Spiral Aurora over Iceland, Maj William W. 'Bill' Price!!! The overall detail is extremely good in my view, Bill... the coloring is awesome as the atomic gases interact with the Sun's radiation to form the colorful pattern we see here... I have never seen one of these up close and personal, but they are wonderful to look at in image or video format... Great share!!!
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