                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                               2023 August 15
   A body of water is seen in front of a night sky. The water reflects the
     sky. In the sky, on the right are green aurora. In the center is an
      orange plume. On the right are three while plumes. Please see the
                 explanation for more detailed information.

                   A Triply Glowing Night Sky over Iceland
    Credit & Copyright: Wioleta Gorecka; Text: Natalia Lewandowska (SUNY
                                   Oswego)

   Explanation: The Sun is not the quiet place it seems. It expels an
   unsteady stream of energetic electrons and protons known as the solar
   wind. These charged particles deform the Earth's magnetosphere, change
   paths, and collide with atoms in Earth's atmosphere, causing the
   generation of light in auroras like that visible in green in the image
   left. Earth itself is also geologically active and covered with
   volcanoes. For example, Fagradalsfjall volcano in Iceland, seen
   emitting hot gas in orange near the image center. Iceland is one of the
   most geologically active places on Earth. On the far right is the
   Svartsengi geothermal power plant which creates the famous human-made
   Blue Lagoon, shown emitting white gas plumes. The featured composition
   therefore highlights three different sky phenomena, including both
   natural and human-made phenomena.

                    Tomorrow's picture: a cosmic embrace
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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                           NASA Science Activation
                             & Michigan Tech. U.

