Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]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.

                              2025 February 10
   [2]A snowy landscape sits below a star filled sky. Dominating the frame
   is a large aurora in red, green, yellow, purple, white. Please see the
                 explanation for more detailed information.

                       Auroral Hummingbird over Norway
                 Image Credit & Copyright: [3]Mickael Coulon

   Explanation: Is this the largest hummingbird ever? Although it may look
   like a popular fluttering [4]nectarivore, what is pictured is actually
   a beautifully detailed and colorful [5]aurora, complete with rays
   reminiscent of feathers. This [6]aurora was so bright that it was
   visible to the unaided eye during [7]blue hour -- just after sunset
   when the [8]sky appears a darkening blue. However, the [9]aurora only
   looked like a [10]hummingbird through a sensitive camera able to pick
   up faint glows. As [11]reds typically occurring higher in the
   [12]Earth's atmosphere than the greens, the real [13]3D shape of this
   aurora would likely appear unfamiliar. [14]Auroras are created when an
   [15]explosion on the Sun causes high energy particles to flow into the
   Earth's atmosphere and [16]excite atoms and molecules of nitrogen and
   oxygen. The [17]featured image was captured about two weeks ago above
   [18]Lyngseidt, [19]Norway.

                        Tomorrow's picture: fly high
     __________________________________________________________________

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    Authors & editors: [31]Robert Nemiroff ([32]MTU) & [33]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([34]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [35]Specific rights apply.
            [36]NASA Web Privacy, [37]Accessibility, [38]Notices;
                A service of: [39]ASD at [40]NASA / [41]GSFC,
                         [42]NASA Science Activation
                           & [43]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2502/BirdAurora_Coulon_2581.jpg
   3. https://www.instagram.com/mickael_coulon_astrophoto/
   4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nectarivore
   5. https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/aurora/
   6. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap241223.html
   7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_hour
   8. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap210826.html
   9. https://www.aurorasaurus.org/
  10. https://www.hummingbirdcentral.com/hummingbird-faqs.htm
  11. https://img.apmcdn.org/7a6d073179a68e50dbf9833adb72225a76554a51/uncropped/0011cd-20241011-nws-aurora-colors-webp1000.webp
  12. https://www.nasa.gov/general/what-is-earths-atmosphere/
  13. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap230624.html
  14. https://science.nasa.gov/sun/auroras/
  15. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240818.html
  16. https://www.reddit.com/r/Eyebleach/comments/hwt0yz/happy_kitty/#lightbox
  17. https://www.instagram.com/p/DFhlId7M9TP/
  18. https://youtu.be/gbkRxvcsQqQ
  19. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norway
  20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250209.html
  21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  24. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  26. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  28. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  29. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=250210
  30. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250211.html
  31. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  32. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  33. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  34. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  35. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  36. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  37. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  38. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  39. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  40. https://www.nasa.gov/
  41. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  42. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  43. http://www.mtu.edu/