                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                2023 March 27
   Multi-colored aurora are seen above an unusual stone gateway, the first
      of several similar gateways seen in the distance. Please see the
                 explanation for more detailed information.

                          Aurora Over Arctic Henge
                   Image Credit & Copyright: Cari Letelier

   Explanation: Reports of powerful solar flares started a seven-hour
   quest north to capture modern monuments against an aurora-filled sky.
   The peaks of iconic Arctic Henge in Raufarhöfn in northern Iceland were
   already aligned with the stars: some are lined up toward the exact
   north from one side and toward exact south from the other. The featured
   image, taken after sunset late last month, looks directly south, but
   since the composite image covers so much of the sky, the north star
   Polaris is actually visible at the very top of the frame. Also visible
   are familiar constellations including the Great Bear (Ursa Major) on
   the left, and the Hunter (Orion) on the lower right. The quest was
   successful. The sky lit up dramatically with bright and memorable
   auroras that shimmered with amazing colors including red, pink, yellow,
   and green -- sometimes several at once.

                 Tomorrow's picture: green flash flash flash
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
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