In December, the sky shone brightly, resembling a Christmas tree. The vibrant aurora borealis, in shades of green, blue and purple, was the result of oxygen and nitrogen atoms in the atmosphere interacting with electrons. These collisions cause atoms and molecules to become energized and then emit light as they return to their original state. This mesmerizing image, captured from the Icelandic town of Djúpivogur in December 2023, presented one of nature's most impressive visual spectacles. The Sun has entered one of the most active periods of its 11-year cycle and is expected to remain so until 2025. Throughout 2024, the Sun's energy bursts, with activity levels near their peak, continue to create breathtaking aurora displays visible from Earth.

December 23, 2024 Astronomy Photo of the Day (NASA APOD)

Image Source and Copyright: Jingyi Zhang