白圆顶喷泉上空的极光

2022年2月20日

Aurora Over White Dome Geyser
Image Credit & Copyright: Robert Howell

Explanation: Sometimes both heaven and Earth erupt. Colorful auroras erupted unexpectedly a few years ago, with green aurora appearing near the horizon and brilliant bands of red aurora blooming high overhead. A bright Moon lit the foreground of this picturesque scene, while familiar stars could be seen far in the distance. With planning, the careful astrophotographer shot this image mosaic in the field of White Dome Geyser in Yellowstone National Park in the western USA. Sure enough, just after midnight, White Dome erupted — spraying a stream of water and vapor many meters into the air. Geyser water is heated to steam by scalding magma several kilometers below, and rises through rock cracks to the surface. About half of all known geysers occur in Yellowstone National Park. Although the geomagnetic storm that caused the auroras subsided within a day, eruptions of White Dome Geyser continue about every 30 minutes.

Tomorrow’s picture: barred spiral

白圆顶喷泉上空的极光
影像提供与版权: Robert Howell

说明: 有时候，天空与地面都发生爆发。例证之一就出现在数前年，当时的天空意外出现色彩美丽的极光，其中的绿色极光悬浮在地平线上方，而天顶则有灿烂的条状红极光。此外，在这幅美丽的影像里，有明亮的月华照耀着前景，同时亦可看到星空远处的熟悉的亮星。在仔细规划下，这位天文摄影者在美国西部黄石国家公园的白圆顶喷泉附近，拍下这幅组合影像。正如预期的，当时在子夜过后白圆顶喷泉发生喷发，喷出高达数公尺的水与蒸气。喷泉的水通常受地底下数公里深处滚烫岩浆的加热，然后挤过岩缝涌到地表。在所有已知的喷泉里，约有半数位在在黄石国家公园之内。虽然产生极光的地球磁暴会在一天之内停歇，但白圆顶喷泉持续大约每30分钟发生一次喷发。

明日的图片: barred spiral