18 Stunning Green Auroras for St Paddy’s Day

In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, here are 18 stunning green auroras as seen from Earth and outer space (aboard the International Space Station). For those unfamiliar, Saint Patrick’s Day is a cultural and religious celebration held on the 17th of March each year. It signifies the traditional death date of Saint Patrick (c. AD 385–461), the foremost patron saint of Ireland.

An aurora (astralis in the south and borealis in the north) is a natural light display in the sky particularly in the high latitude (Arctic and Antarctic) regions, caused by the collision of energetic charged particles with atoms in the high altitude atmosphere (thermosphere). The charged particles originate in the magnetosphere and solar wind and, on Earth, are directed by the Earth’s magnetic field into the atmosphere.

1. Tromsø, Norway - January 9, 2014

Photo: Harald Albrigtsen Nasa.gov

2. Faskrudsfjordur, Iceland - March 8, 2012

Photo: Jónína Óskarsdóttir Nasa.gov

3. International Space Station - September 17, 2011

Photo: NASA

4. International Space Station - December 9, 2014

Photo: ESA/Samantha Cristoforetti

5. Alberta, Canada - June 1, 2011

Photo: NASA/Zoltan Kenwell

6. International Space Station - May 29, 2010

Photo: NASA/JSC

7. International Space Station - July 15, 2014

Photo: NASA

8. Venetie, Alaska - March 3, 2014

Photo: NASA/Christopher Perry

9. International Space Station - January 25, 2012

Photo: NASA

10. International Space Station - August 29, 2014

Photo: ESA/Alexander Gerst

11. Sweden - January 25, 2012

Photo: Peter Rosén via Nasa.gov

12. International Space Station - September 18, 2011

Photo: NASA

13. International Space Station - July 15, 2014

Photo: NASA

14. Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada - October 1, 2012

Photo: Joseph Bradley viaNasa.gov

15. International Space Station - February 6, 2015

Photo: NASA/Terry Virts

16. Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada - August 31, 2012

Photo: David Cartier, Sr via NASA Goddard on Flickr

17. International Space Station - July 15, 2012

Photo: NASA/JSC

18. Bear Lake, Alaska, United States - January 18, 2005

Photo: United States Air Force Senior Airman Joshua Strang
Source: Twisted Sifter

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