The Northern Lights over Reykjavik, Iceland

The Northern Lights over Reykjavik, Iceland

Astrophotographer Wioleta Gorecka: "This time, I wanted to capture the aurora borealis in the center of Reykjavík. It is not an easy task due to light pollution; the aurora needs to be strong enough to be visible and allow for a proper exposure. I managed to capture the shot just as the famous Hallgrímskirkja church was illuminated in pink—a symbol of the fight against breast cancer. The colors harmonized beautifully."

Also known as the northern lights (aurora borealis) or southern lights (aurora australis), auroras are colorful, dynamic, and often visually delicate displays of an intricate dance of particles and magnetism between the Sun and Earth called space weather. When energetic particles from space collide with atoms and molecules in the atmosphere, they can cause the colorful glow that we call auroras.

Learn more about auroras: 
https://science.nasa.gov/sun/auroras/

Iceland is a Nordic island country between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between Europe and North America. Reykjavík is the capital and largest city of Iceland. It is located on the southern shore of the Faxaflói bay in southwest Iceland and has a latitude of 64°08′ N, making it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state.

Image Credit: Wioleta Gorecka
Location: Reykjavik, Hallgrimskirkja

Wioleta's website: https://instagram.com/wiola.gorecka?igshid=ff0xckzefdlb
Release Date: Oct. 5, 2026

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Sun #SolarSystem #SolarWind #Planet #Earth #Magnetosphere #GeomagneticStorms #Aurora #AuroraBorealis #NorthernLights #Astrophotography #WioletaGorecka #Astrophotographers #Reykjavík #Iceland #Ísland #STEM #Education