In Pictures
Northern Lights switch on
The Aurora Borealis has been in evidence over the last few nights.
Last Modified: 19 Mar 2013 08:17


NASA/REUTERS
28 February: Despite approaching the 11-year predicted solar maximum, sunspot activity has been limited and strong solar flares have been infrequent.


NASA/REUTERS
6 March: X5.4, (upper left),the second largest solar flare since the solar minimum of 2007.


NASA/REUTERS
6 March: Another shot of the largest solar flare since an X6.9 on 9 August 2011.


JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP/Getty Images
17 March: The Aurora Borealis, commonly known as the Northern Lights, as seen from between Are and Ostersund, Sweden.


JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP/Getty Images
17 March: Another photograph of the display between Are and Ostersund.


JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP/Getty Images
17 March: More from Are-Ostersund.


RAIGO PAJULA/AFP/Getty Images
17 March: The Aurora lights up the sky near Tallinn, Estonia.


RAIGO PAJULA/AFP/Getty Images
17 March: The constantly changing aurora near Tallin.


M. SCOTT MOON/AP
17 March: The aurora from the Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox church in Kenai, Alaska.


M. SCOTT MOON/AP
17 March: Another image from Kenai.


HO/Reuters
17 September 2011: Images of the Aurora Australis, or Southern Lights, are harder to come by due to the inaccessability of the region. The International Space Station (ISS) has no such issues and captured this amazing image in 2011.


The Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, has been visible at high latitudes over the last few nights.

This optical phenomenon results from the interaction between charged particles streaming away from the Sun upon the solar wind, and gas atoms in the upper part of the Earth’s atmosphere.

The Aurora is more likely to be visible during a period of high solar activity. 2013 sees a peak in the Sun’s  11 year solar cycle, although activity has been relatively low, so far.
images:
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captions:
28 February: Despite approaching the 11-year predicted solar maximum, sunspot activity has been limited and strong solar flares have been infrequent.;*;6 March: X5.4, (upper left),the second largest solar flare since the solar minimum of 2007.;*;6 March: Another shot of the largest solar flare since an X6.9 on 9 August 2011.;*;17 March: The Aurora Borealis, commonly known as the Northern Lights, as seen from between Are and Ostersund, Sweden.;*;17 March: Another photograph of the display between Are and Ostersund.;*;17 March: More from Are-Ostersund.;*;17 March: The Aurora lights up the sky near Tallinn, Estonia.;*;17 March: The constantly changing aurora near Tallin.;*;17 March: The aurora from the Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox church in Kenai, Alaska. ;*;17 March: Another image from Kenai.;*;17 September 2011: Images of the Aurora Australis, or Southern Lights, are harder to come by due to the inaccessability of the region. The International Space Station (ISS) has no such issues and captured this amazing image in 2011. Daylife ID:
1363674548188
Photographer:
NASA;*;NASA;*;NASA;*;JONATHAN NACKSTRAND;*;JONATHAN NACKSTRAND;*;JONATHAN NACKSTRAND;*;RAIGO PAJULA;*;RAIGO PAJULA;*;M. SCOTT MOON;*;M. SCOTT MOON;*;HO
Image Source:
REUTERS;*;REUTERS;*;REUTERS;*;AFP/Getty Images;*;AFP/Getty Images;*;AFP/Getty Images;*;AFP/Getty Images;*;AFP/Getty Images;*;AP;*;AP;*;Reuters
Gallery Source:
Daylife
Daylife Raw Data:
Northern lights switch onhttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1363674548188en-usAl Jazeerafeedback@daylife.com10Tue, 19 Mar 2013 06:29:08 GMTTue, 19 Mar 2013 07:36:56 GMTAn anti-climaxhttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1363674548188?image_id=03nA5k89kE1L9

28 February: Despite approaching the 11-year predicted solar maximum, sunspot activity has been limited and strong solar flares have been infrequent.

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 14:40:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1363674548188?image_id=03nA5k89kE1L9NASAREUTERSReuters Pictures

28 February: Despite approaching the 11-year predicted solar maximum, sunspot activity has been limited and strong solar flares have been infrequent.

An anti-climaxFlaring uphttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1363674548188?image_id=0e9M70ScDecsh

6 March: X5.4, (upper left),the second largest solar flare since the solar minimum of 2007.

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 19:41:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1363674548188?image_id=0e9M70ScDecshNASAREUTERSReuters Pictures

6 March: X5.4, (upper left),the second largest solar flare since the solar minimum of 2007.

Flaring upX5.4http://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1363674548188?image_id=07IB61z3p71Lg

6 March: Another shot of the largest solar flare since an X6.9 on 9 August 2011.

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 19:39:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1363674548188?image_id=07IB61z3p71LgNASAREUTERSReuters Pictures

6 March: Another shot of the largest solar flare since an X6.9 on 9 August 2011.

X5.4Swedish stunnerhttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1363674548188?image_id=07Ar2iE92B4CW

17 March: The Aurora Borealis, commonly known as the Northern Lights, as seen from between Are and Ostersund, Sweden.

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 20:23:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1363674548188?image_id=07Ar2iE92B4CWJONATHAN NACKSTRANDAFP/Getty ImagesGetty Images

17 March: The Aurora Borealis, commonly known as the Northern Lights, as seen from between Are and Ostersund, Sweden.

Swedish stunnerCurtain of lighthttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1363674548188?image_id=08zOcyf3UneGl

17 March: Another photograph of the display between Are and Ostersund.

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 20:20:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1363674548188?image_id=08zOcyf3UneGlJONATHAN NACKSTRANDAFP/Getty ImagesGetty Images

17 March: Another photograph of the display between Are and Ostersund.

Curtain of lightChanging colourshttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1363674548188?image_id=0gv9bVef2ygqw

17 March: More from Are-Ostersund.

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 20:17:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1363674548188?image_id=0gv9bVef2ygqwJONATHAN NACKSTRANDAFP/Getty ImagesGetty Images

17 March: More from Are-Ostersund.

Changing coloursLighting up the skyhttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1363674548188?image_id=0g929qQ3oPaLN

17 March: The Aurora lights up the sky near Tallinn, Estonia.

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 19:03:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1363674548188?image_id=0g929qQ3oPaLNRAIGO PAJULAAFP/Getty ImagesGetty Images

17 March: The Aurora lights up the sky near Tallinn, Estonia.

Lighting up the skyMore of nature's fireworkshttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1363674548188?image_id=03Y83be4hnecy

17 March: The constantly changing aurora near Tallin.

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 19:05:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1363674548188?image_id=03Y83be4hnecyRAIGO PAJULAAFP/Getty ImagesGetty Images

17 March: The constantly changing aurora near Tallin.

More of nature's fireworksHeavenly displayhttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1363674548188?image_id=050DaXm7N08qT

17 March: The aurora from the Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox church in Kenai, Alaska.

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 14:23:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1363674548188?image_id=050DaXm7N08qTM. SCOTT MOONAPAP Photo

17 March: The aurora from the Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox church in Kenai, Alaska.

Heavenly displayAlaskan aurorahttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1363674548188?image_id=02OSfWFgcM7T5

17 March: Another image from Kenai.

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 06:43:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1363674548188?image_id=02OSfWFgcM7T5M. SCOTT MOONAPAP Photo

17 March: Another image from Kenai.

Alaskan auroraLooking southhttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1363674548188?image_id=0gWIgGKcbp2Ov

17 September 2011: Images of the Aurora Australis, or Southern Lights, are harder to come by due to the inaccessability of the region. The International Space Station (ISS) has no such issues and captured this amazing image in 2011.

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 22:54:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1363674548188?image_id=0gWIgGKcbp2OvHOReutersReuters Pictures

17 September 2011: Images of the Aurora Australis, or Southern Lights, are harder to come by due to the inaccessability of the region. The International Space Station (ISS) has no such issues and captured this amazing image in 2011.

Looking south

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