Skógafoss waterfall aurora borealis selected by NASA

A photograph of the Skógafoss waterfall in Iceland under a vibrant aurora borealis has been selected by NASA as the Astronomy Picture of the Day. The image, captured in April 2025 by photographer Victor Lima, features a sky filled with green, pink, and yellow hues.

The colors in the aurora are determined by the specific particles in the Earth's atmosphere and the altitude at which they interact with solar wind energy. To capture such a scene, high solar activity is required to send charged particles toward Earth, alongside clear, dark skies. Iceland's high latitude makes it a frequent location for observing these phenomena due to the Earth's magnetic field directing particles toward the upper atmosphere.