Time-lapse auroras over Norway

April 6, 2011

One of the largest auroral displays in recent years has appeared at the border between Norway and Russia, shown in this time-lapse animation near Kirkenes, Norway by Terje Sørgjerd in March 2011.

Aurora are often green when high energy particles strike the Earth’s atmosphere, causing the air to glow as electrons recombine with oxygen. Other colors are occasionally noticeable when atmospheric nitrogen is affected.