Explanation: September’s equinox arrives tomorrow as the Sun
crosses the celestial equator heading south. The event marks the
astronomical beginning of spring in the southern hemisphere and
autumn in the north. And though the connection is still
puzzling, the equinox seasons bring an increase in geomagnetic
storms. So as northern nights grow longer, the equinox also
heralds the arrival of a good season for aurora hunters.
Recorded on September 20, these colorful northern lights were
captured with camera and wide-angle lens near the Norwegian Sea
coast outside Tromsø in Northern Norway. Shining at altitudes of
100 kilometers or so, the aurora rays are parallel, but
perspective makes them appear to radiate from a vanishing point
behind the silhouetted pine tree. Stars in this enchanting
northern night include Polaris above and right of the tree top,
and yellowish giant stars Shedar (Alpha Cassiopiae) to the left
and Kochab (Beta Ursae Minoris) to the right. Bright Altair
shines through the greenish auroral curt