Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                               2026 January 1
    [2]See Explanation. Clicking on the picture will download the highest
                        resolution version available.

                               Auroral Corona
                  Image Credit & [3]Copyright: [4]Roi Levi

   Explanation: [5]Cycle 25 solar maximum made 2025 a great year for
   [6]aurora borealis (or [7]aurora australis) on planet Earth. And the
   high level of solar activity should extend into 2026. So, while you're
   celebrating the arrival of the new year, check out this [8]spectacular
   auroral display that erupted in starry night skies over [9]Kirkjufell,
   Iceland. The awesome auroral corona, energetic curtains of light
   streaming from directly overhead, was witnessed during a strong
   [10]geomagnetic storm triggered by intense solar activity near the
   March 2025 equinox. This northland and skyscape captures the evocative
   display in a 21 frame panoramic mosaic.

                      Tomorrow's picture: solar sailing
     __________________________________________________________________

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    Authors & editors: [22]Robert Nemiroff ([23]MTU) & [24]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([25]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [26]Specific rights apply.
            [27]NASA Web Privacy, [28]Accessibility, [29]Notices;
                A service of: [30]ASD at [31]NASA / [32]GSFC,
                         [33]NASA Science Activation
                           & [34]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2601/AuroraFireworksstormRoiLevi.jpg
   3. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
   4. https://www.instagram.com/astroi_levi/?hl=en
   5. https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/solar-cycle-progression
   6. https://www.mtu.edu/tour/copper-country/northern-lights/
   7. https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa2explore/54644014628/in/album-72177720319898071
   8. https://www.instagram.com/astroi_levi/p/DQ9QEbnDI_R/?hl=en
   9. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap231125.html
  10. https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/phenomena/geomagnetic-storms
  11. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap251231.html
  12. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  13. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  14. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  15. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  16. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  17. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  18. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  20. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=260101
  21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260102.html
  22. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  23. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  24. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  25. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  26. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  27. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  28. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  29. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  30. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  31. https://www.nasa.gov/
  32. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  33. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  34. http://www.mtu.edu/