Template:POTD/2012-02-05
The aurora australis, as seen from the International Space Station. Aurorae are natural light displays in the sky caused by the collision of energetic charged particles with atoms in the high altitude thermosphere. The particles originate in the magnetosphere and solar wind and, on Earth, are directed by Earth's magnetic field into the atmosphere.Photo: NASA/ISS Expedition 23 crew
 | This picture of the day has been featured on Portal:Solar System. |