Earlier this month, one of the most spectacular auroral displays of the past several years appeared over the northern regions near the border between Russia and Norway.
In a time-lapse film created by Terje Sorgjerd, the aurora flows beautifully above snow-covered landscapes, trees, clouds, mountains, and lakes around Kirkenes, Norway.
Many of the auroras appear green. This glow is produced when energetic particles associated with the solar wind interact with Earth's upper atmosphere. During the process, atmospheric oxygen is excited by energetic electrons and emits light. Other striking colors that occasionally appear are produced when nitrogen atoms are excited through similar processes.
In later sequences, the Moon and stars can also be seen rising. With the Sun expected to become more active over the following years, opportunities to see such spectacular auroras, even from regions somewhat closer to the middle latitudes, were expected to increase.