<p>Taken on <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/astro_andre/6890185644/in/photostream" rel="nofollow">March 28 2012 by André Kuipers</a>, the version <a href="http://randelirious.blogspot.com/2012/04/andre-kuipers-photos.html" rel="nofollow">here</a> is labeled </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Amazing aurora lights and <strong>atmospheric glare</strong> with the countries Ireland, Netherlands, Scotland, England and Wales in the foreground.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Off to the north and east like that, it's likely refracted early sunrise. That's a <strong>lot</strong> of streetlights for that time of the day; likely a longish exposure to capture aurora. That'd increase sunrise glare as well.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-28T01:16:20.533Z
Since the sun is not visible, then it is quite dark in the British Isles. But I agree that it is a long exposure.
LDC3
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-27T12:25:20.133Z
2014-10-27T13:11:42.193Z
2014-10-27T13:11:42.193Z
Wayfaring Stranger
<p>Regarding the photo of the earth <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/spaceporn/comments/sam2o/uk_and_ireland_by_night_with_the_aurora_borealis/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">described here</a>,</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/RFjk0.jpg" alt="photo in question"></p>

<p>I know that the green tinge on the left hand side is to do with the aurora borealis. What's causing the bright white light on the right hand side?</p>

<earth><photography>
What causes the bright white area in this photo of the earth?
Andrew Grimm
# What causes the bright white area in this photo of the earth?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-10-27)

Regarding the photo of the earth [described here](http://www.reddit.com/r/spaceporn/comments/sam2o/uk_and_ireland_by_night_with_the_aurora_borealis/),

![photo in question](https://i.sstatic.net/RFjk0.jpg)

I know that the green tinge on the left hand side is to do with the aurora borealis. What's causing the bright white light on the right hand side?

**Tags:** earth, photography

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-10-27. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

Taken on [March 28 2012 by André Kuipers](http://www.flickr.com/photos/astro_andre/6890185644/in/photostream), the version [here](http://randelirious.blogspot.com/2012/04/andre-kuipers-photos.html) is labeled

> Amazing aurora lights and **atmospheric glare** with the countries Ireland, Netherlands, Scotland, England and Wales in the foreground.

Off to the north and east like that, it's likely refracted early sunrise. That's a **lot** of streetlights for that time of the day; likely a longish exposure to capture aurora. That'd increase sunrise glare as well.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Since the sun is not visible, then it is quite dark in the British Isles. But I agree that it is a long exposure.  

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