Working at a remote mine in Canada's Northwest Territorry allows us to see auroras regularly," says Lana Rupp, "but April 6th was the first time I've seen so many colors--pink, purple and green." She took this picture of the sky above the mine using her Nikon D40X.

Why the pink? Auroras are caused by charged particles (mainly electrons) from space raining down on Earth's atmosphere, causing the air to glow where they hit. The most common shade is green; this is the color given off by oxygen 60+ miles above Earth's surface. On April 6th, however, a burst of extra-energetic electrons penetrated the atmosphere deeper than usual reaching altitudes less than 60 miles. For such "low auroras," the temperature and density of air favor not the green glow of oxygen but the pink and purple shades of molecular nitrogen, hence the pink fringe. Learn more about aurora colors from Alaska's Geophysical Inststitute.

I was out trying to photograph an iglu in the evening light when all of a sudden an explosion of light danced overhead. I have never seen the aurora so bright at dusk - and what timing. I had my Nikon D300 and tripod ready when the lights began their northern dance. I have always dreamed of this. Woweee!!

Once again I was on my monthly flight from LA to London, with good position on the north side of the plane. The aurora stayed relatively far north, and only intenfified briefly, while we were flying over the Hudson Bay at about midnight local time.

Photo details: These were shot handheld with a Canon 40D, 24mm f/1.4 lens at f/1.4, ISO 1600, 1s exposure.

Tonight, with some friends, we went on the inlet to see the northern lights. When we arrived, the clouds were almost everywhere in the sky. Fortunately, we could take some pictures of our adventure. Weather : -21 C.

Photo details: Canon EOS 30D, 10mm, 10 sec., 800 ISO, f3,5 and 16mm, 6 sec., 800 ISO f2,8.

Just after midnight, there was still a little twilight with some color in the sky, a bright moon, and fresh snow, with a nice, but short display.

Photo details: Nikon D3 ISO 1600, 4-6 secs. at f2.8, 16 mm fisheye and 14-24 mm

What a lovely sight it was the other night in the Swedish mountains in Tänndalen Sweden! A beautiful sky filled with stars and the Milky Way shining and also a faint Aurora Borealis display.

Photo details: Canon Digital Rebel XT and a 20mm Sigma on a tripod.