Spectacular Skywatcher Photo Catches Deep Purple Northern Lights Show

Nina Sen, SPACE.com Contributor.

Date: 19 December 2011 Time: 03:03 PM ET

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Skywatcher Yuichi Takasaki took this photo of deep violet hues in an auroral display. Multiple exposures are made to collect enough light for an image that would otherwise not be evident to the eye. CREDIT: Yuichi Takasaka/TWAN View full size image

This colorful photo of the northern lights was taken by skywatcher Yuichi Takasaka above British Columbia, Canada.

Auroral activity is connected to solar storms on the surface of the sun. The northern and southern lights — also known as the aurora — are mostly witnessed in polar latitudes. A clash of charged particles from Earth's magnetosphere with atoms and molecules of Earth's atmosphere (at altitudes above 50 miles, or 80 kilometers) cause these lights. Solar wind from the sun carries these particles to Earth.
MORE: http://www.space.com/13912-stunning-purple-northern-lights-photo-aurora.html


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