In astronomy, auroras are rare occurrences that captivate observers as the sky becomes vibrant with colors, resembling a mythical film. Many individuals have dedicated their time and effort to capture stunning photographs of auroras.
With the recent impact of the Solar Storm on Earth, reaching its peak on May 10th, a group of photographers gathered at the White Dome hot spring within Yellowstone National Park, in the western United States, to witness this breathtaking moment.
The light from the auroras and the reflection on the lake appear as enchanting bands of colors. (Photo: Geoff Coalter).
In the photograph, the hot springs serve as a captivating foreground, reflecting and harmonizing with the ethereal light of the aurora dancing across the sky, creating a fascinating combination.
However, this phenomenon lasts only a few hours before being obscured by sunlight. To capture the image, photographer Geoff Coalter used an 8-second exposure, utilizing the Nikon Z8 camera combined with the Nikkor Z 24-70 f/2.8 lens.
Aurora is an optical phenomenon that occurs when the sky displays bands of colorful light at night. Auroras consist of multiple colors ranging from white, green, blue, pink, and purple, but the most common are shades of green and blue.
The aurora phenomenon follows the cycle of the Sun and typically occurs in late autumn and early spring. It is formed through the interaction of charged energy particles from the Sun with molecules in Earth’s atmosphere.
From a scientific perspective, this phenomenon has negative impacts on our planet, specifically the depletion of the ozone layer.
An international research group discovered that the effects of isolated proton auroras created a nearly 400 square kilometer hole in the ozone layer, causing most of the ozone to disappear within approximately 2 hours.
According to warnings from scientists, auroras can disrupt certain operating satellites and ground-level power infrastructure. Charged particles also pose a danger to astronauts on space missions.