Aurora observations, 1839. Historical artwork of an aurora seen from Finland, on 21st January 1839. Aurorae, displays of coloured lights in the sky, f

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Aurora observations, 1839. Historical artwork of an aurora seen from Finland, on 21st January 1839. Aurorae, displays of coloured lights in the sky, form as charged particles in the solar wind are drawn by Earth's magnetic field to the poles. There, they collide with gas atoms and molecules, causing them to emit light. Auroral displays outside the polar regions are usually due to a rise in solar activity.

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Size: 5400px × 3343px
Photo credit: © DETLEV VAN RAVENSWAAY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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