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Thenorthern lights , or aurora borealis , are a worldwide natural wonder . They form when solar flatus from the sun slams into Earth ’s atmosphere , ionizing the oxygen and N molecule there . As they release that extra vigor , they give off an gossamer glow .

This year ’s winners for theNorthern lights lensman of the year , the 6th edition fromCapture the Atlas , includes 25 of the best northern ignitor photography from around the macrocosm .

Green northern lights over Sukakpak Mountain in Alaska, USA.

Northern lights seen over Sukakpak Mountain in Alaska, USA.

The 2023 finalists includes excerption from latitudes where the light have never been shoot before . AsEarthapproaches thesolar maximum , or the disorderly peak of 11 - year solar cps , the northern lights can be seen at these lower latitudes .

From the Arctic landscape painting of Alaska and Norway to the Southern Hemisphere ’s Australia and New Zealand , this awesome collection of picture taking showcases greens , purpleness , and magentas that should n’t be omit .

Winner: Storm over Sukapak, Nickolas Warner

This green northerly light presentation over Sukakpak Mountain from Nickolas Warner took first place in the contest . Located about 70 miles ( 110 kilometers ) N of the Arctic Circle , the bloom is part of the Brooks Mountain Range in Alaska , USA .

Second place: The Arctic dance, Vincent Beudez

French lensman Vincent Beudez captured this Ne flare-up of lightness in Tromsø , Norway .

Third place: Lost who I want to be, Jordan McInally

This trope of a jaundiced and magenta aurora over Moke Lake in New Zealand , from lensman Jordan McInally , lease third place .

Finalist: Red alert, William Preite

This dazzling , scarlet solar consequence , photographed by William Preite over the Dolomites in Italy , is really known as a stable auroral red ( SAR ) arc , an event even rarer than the aurora . Contrary to its name , this phenomenon isneither especially stable , nor an aurora , Live Science previously reported . severe acute respiratory syndrome form when oxygen atom in Earth ’s upper standard pressure are superheated by the large electric loop that circles our major planet .

Finalist: Infinity, Giulio Cobianchi

for shoot this " double spark " mental image decently , a few factors postulate to be in play , harmonize to lensman Giulio Cobianchi . absolved skies and a moonless night coupled with an aurora only visible to the north , enabled this capture of the lights over the Lofoten Islands in Norway .

Finalist: Bakers oven aurora australis, Josh Beames

Photographer Josh Beames conquer this fluorescent view of the aurora australis , or southern visible radiation , in Bakers Oven , Australia .

Finalist: Goleuadau’r gogledd, Mathew Browne

The trope ’s claim " Goleuadau’r gogledd " translate to " northern lights " in Welsh . Photographer Mathew Browne captured the rarefied occurrence of the aurora borealis in the United Kingdom over Paxton ’s Tower in Wales .

Finalist: The platform, Virgil Reglioni

Photographer Virgil Reglioni shoot his finalist work during a geomagnetic storm over a peak in Ottertinden , Norway . The team climbed a 47 - academic degree steep incline in minus 5 degrees Fahrenheit ( minus 21 degrees Celsius ) temperatures to obtain the dreamlike image .

Finalist: The red flame, Laura Oppelt

Germany ’s Wadden Sea National Parks is an unusually southwards locating for the aurora borealis , but photographer Laura Oppelt was able to capture this explosion of light on Sept. 25 , 2023 .

Finalist: Waning sun, Alex Wides

This spectacular 300 - stage prospect , which showcases the pose Dominicus during an intense display of the northerly light , was catch on Senja Island in Norway by photographer Alex Wides .

Finalist: Lady in pink, Kenneth LeRose

spud from the lowest altitude in the United States , this violet aurora was captured in Death Valley , California by lensman Kenneth LeRose . Auroras are n’t typically check so far south either .

Finalist: Island of aurora, Kat Lawman

lensman Kat Lawman catch this rare show of the morning over Wales , United Kingdom .

Finalist: Aurora explosion, Jason Perry

This magenta and yellow exhibit of the southerly lights was captured in April , 2023 by lensman Jason Perry in Tasmania , Australia .

Finalist: Gatklettur northern lights, Stefano Pellegrini

After chasing the northern lights for over a week , Stefano Pellegrini catch this magnificent auroral swirl in Gatklettur , Iceland .

Finalist: Beauty of the north, Elena Ermolina

This purple and gullible aurora waltz was captured by lensman Elena Ermolina on Russia ’s Kola Peninsula .

Finalist: March Michigan nights, Justin Miller

Michigan native , Justin Miller , photograph this northerly Christ Within display over a farm in Glen Arbor .

Finalist: Fleeting moments on ice, MaryBeth Kiczenski

Photographed in March , 2023 by MaryBeth Kiczenski , this Alaskan ice cave collapsed over the summer , make this view of the break of day from within truly one - of - a - kind .

Finalist: Green snakes, Filip Hrebenda

Taken on a lesser - cognise beach in Lofoten , Norway called " Vikten , " lensman Filip Hrebenda seize this twist aurora , which resembles " light-green snakes . "

Finalist: Northern lights in Nova Scotia, Kristine Rose

Canadian lensman , Kristine Rose , capture this cockcrow , along with its reflection , in Nova Scotia .

Finalist: Circle of life, Frøydis Dalheim

Photographer Frøydis Dalheim shot this wintertime spectacle in Lappland , Finland on a March night in 2023 that give almost minus 22 F ( minus 30 C ) .

Finalist: Aurora flame, Richard Zheng

Richard Zheng photographed violet aurora australis over the Dunedin Peninsula in New Zealand . The photo shows the big Magellanic Cloud in the upper correct recess , the Colloidal Nebula as a red slew in the upper left hand , and the Carina Nebula below .

Finalist: The dance of the green lady, Luis Cajete

This geyser of unripened light was photographed by Luis Cajete over Iceland ’s Haifoss falls .

Finalist: Blåvatnet, Lukas Moesch

Photographer Lukas Moesch " had a witching clash with a uncommon lily-white reindeer ( a sign of good fate ) , " on his way to capture this moment of the northerly lights in Tromsø , Norway .

Finalist: Echant, Paul Wilson

This pic by Paul Wilson , taken from Camp Saddle in Canterbury , New Zealand , show the Large and diminished Magellanic Clouds beside the aurora australis , galaxies that are only visible in the Southern Hemisphere .

Finalist: Kirkjufell explosion, Marc Marco Ripoll

This immature vortex was photograph by Marc Marco Ripoll on Iceland ’s Mt. Kirkjufell , locate on the Snæfellsnes peninsula .

Purple, green and red northern lights over Tromso, Norway.

Northern lights over Tromso, Norway.

Purple, magenta and yellow northern lights over Moke Lake, New Zealand.

Northern lights over Moke Lake, New Zealand.

Red northern lights over Dolomites, Italy.

Northern lights over Dolomites, Italy.

Yellow and green northern lights over the Lofoten Islands, Norway.

Northern lights over the Lofoten Islands, Norway.

Purple and green northern lights over Bakers Oven, Australia.

Northern lights over Bakers Oven, Australia.

Purple, green and magenta northern lights over Wales, United Kingdom.

Northern lights over Wales, United Kingdom.

Purple and green northern lights over Otertinden, Norway.

Northern lights over Otertinden, Norway.

Magenta and green northern lights over Wadden Sea National Parks, Germany.

Northern lights over Wadden Sea National Parks, Germany.

Purple, orange and green northern lights over Senja Island, Norway.

Northern lights over Senja Island, Norway.

Purple northern lights over Death Valley, USA.

Northern lights over Death Valley, USA.

Red and green northern lights over Wales, United Kingdom.

Northern lights over Wales, United Kingdom.

Purple and orange northern lights over Tasmania, Australia.

Northern lights over Tasmania, Australia.

Green northern lights over Gatklettur, Iceland.

Northern lights over Gatklettur, Iceland.

Purple and green northern lights over Kola Peninsula, Russia.

Northern lights over Kola Peninsula, Russia.

Purple, red and yellow northern lights over Glen Arbor, Michigan.

Northern lights over Glen Arbor, Michigan.

Purple and green northern lights over Alaska, USA.

Northern lights over Alaska, USA.

Green northern lights over Vikten, Norway.

Northern lights over Vikten, Norway.

Purple and orange northern lights over Nova Scotia, Canada.

Northern lights over Nova Scotia, Canada.

Green northern lights over Lappland, Finland.

Northern lights over Lappland, Finland.

Purple and yellow northern lights over Dunedin Peninsula, New Zealand.

Northern lights over Dunedin Peninsula, New Zealand.

Green northern lights over Haifoss, Iceland.

Northern lights over Haifoss, Iceland.

Green northern lights over Tromso, Norway.

Northern lights over Tromso, Norway.

Blue, magenta and green southern lights over Canterbury, New Zealand.

Southern lights over Canterbury, New Zealand.

Green northern lights over Kirkjufell, Iceland.

Northern lights over Kirkjufell, Iceland.

A photo of a volcano erupting at night with the Milky Way visible in the sky

An artist�s illustration of long ribbon-like auroras rippling across the Martian sky

A photograph of the northern lights over Iceland in 2020.

Colorful wisps of gas are visible against swirling green auroras in the night sky.

the silhouette of a woman standing on a beach with her arms outstretched, with a green aurora visible in the night sky

A photo of pink and green Northern lights with the silhouettes of trees visible on the horizon

a researcher bends over and points to the boundary between a body of water and ice

View down an ice tunnel in Greenland�s largest ice stream.

A polar bear on a sheet of ice in the Arctic

A top-down drone photo of Mesyatsev Island

An aerial photo of a vibrant pond of blue water surrounded by snow

A satellite photo of 4 elongated glaciers next to one another

A painting of a Viking man on a boat wearing a horned helmet

The sun in a very thin crescent shape during a solar eclipse

Paintings of animals from Lascaux cave

Stonehenge, Salisbury, UK, July 30, 2024; Stunning aerial view of the spectacular historical monument of Stonehenge stone circles, Wiltshire, England, UK.

A collage of three different robots

A still from the movie “The Martian”, showing an astronaut on the surface of Mars