THE SOLAR WIND CONTINUES TO BLOW: For the fourth day in a row, Earth is inside a stream of solar wind blowing out of a large hole in the sun's atmosphere. This is causing magnetic unrest and bright auroras around the poles. Wind speeds are expected to exceed 600 km/s for at least one more day, so Arctic sky watchers should remain alert for auroras on Dec. 25th. Free: Aurora Alerts.
PINK CHRISTMAS: Intense pink auroras are dancing around the Arctic Circle on Christmas Day 2016. James Helmericks sends this picture from the Colville River Delta in northern Alaska:
"This was the brightest pink display I have ever seen, at one time even giving the snow a pink tinge," he says.
Pink is a sign of electrons from space penetrating unusually deep in Earth's atmosphere and colliding with nitrogen molecules less than 100 km above the planet's surface.
GEOGRAPHY QUIZ: If the sky is green, the ground is white, and the photographer is wearing a red hat, where are you? Check out this image, then scroll down for the answer:
Answer: Abisko, Sweden.
"Last night I worked on Christmas Eve during the Lights Over Lapland Christmas special in Abisko," says photographer Oliver Wright. "We had snow all night and auroras for more than an hour, so I had to use the opportunity to get a Christmas aurora selfie."
"This is the first time I've photographed auroras through snow, so Earth must be still be inside that solar wind stream," he adds.
Indeed it is. Earth has been inside the stream for 4 days, and should remain inside for at least another day or so. Perhaps Oliver Wright won't be the only man in a red hat sighted amongst the green. Stay tuned!
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