Stunning Night Sky Airglow Captured by Photographer

Photographer Aaron Watson captured stunning photos of airglow, a constant phenomenon in the Earth's upper atmosphere that emits light when atoms and molecules shed excess energy. Unlike auroras, which are driven by high-energy particles from the solar wind, airglow is energized by day-to-day solar radiation. Increased solar activity is boosting airglow, and Watson's photos provide valuable insight into the state of the upper atmosphere. NASA is funding experiments to further study the ionosphere and its relationship with the Sun and Earth.