Provided by: Philippe Moussette

Summary authors & editors: Jim Foster; Philippe Moussette

The above photo shows a chartreuse, spring-time aurora that was taken near Cap-Rouge, Quebec on April 29, 2003. It was captured with a Cannon Power-shot A60 camera, using an exposure of 15 seconds (400 ASA). Since the solar maximum peaked over a year ago, vivid displays of the northern lights have occurred less frequently in recent months. Nonetheless, it's still possible to observe auroras anytime during the course of the 11-year solar sunspot cycle. Of course, it helps if you live in Canada or Alaska. See also the Earth Science Picture of the Day for January 1, 2003.

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