Editorial photo #10822868 Human Interest
The Aurora Lights Up Sky In New Zealand
The Aurora Australis is illuminating the night sky above the waters of Lake Ellesmere on the outskirts of Christchurch, New Zealand, on December 1, 2023. This natural phenomenon, also known as the Southern Lights, is caused by solar activity, particularly a coronal mass ejection that sends charged particles and gas into space. It usually takes these particles three days to reach the magnetic field lines at the north and south poles before they enter the atmosphere. Once they enter, the energy and particles combine with atmospheric gases to create a spectrum of colored lights in the sky. (Photo by Sanka Vidanagama/NurPhoto)
