Northern lights fill the sky over Oklahoma during one of the most powerful auroral events of the last two decades. To stand in the shadows of our ancient and dramatic red dirt mesas as the sky glows, pulses, and dances in rainbow colors is a visceral experience. But something extra special manifested during this magical night of nature. Most people don’t realize that Earth has rings. Unlike Saturn’s rings, which are vast disks of glittering ice, Earth’s rings are invisible to the naked eye. They are made of electricity–a donut-shaped circuit carrying millions of amps around our planet. The ring current skims the orbits of geosynchronous satellites and plays a huge role in determining the severity of geomagnetic storms. Amid the most powerful expansion phase of the aurora, when the sun's expelled material hit maximum effect on our planet and, in turn, these rings, green pulsing patches fired on and off in a circular pattern. These 'proton aurora' are formed as protons rain down from the ring system, causing a secondary shower of electrons, which strike the atmosphere and make auroras. To catch these pulsing patches of pure energy on camera was one thing, but to see these extraordinarily bright green emissions with the eye was something else. Another reminder that our planet is filled with wonder, much of which can only be witnessed in the dark places and after the sun goes down. Store products are for prints only. Please allow 10 business days. Custom products (metal, acrylic, framed prints) are available by request.
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