March 4, 1998
The atoms in your body have known many forms: star core, drifting dust, ocean mineral, living cell.
Aurora Over Alaska
Birthday · March 4, 1998
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APOD published March 4, 1998. Credit: D. Hutchinson. A publication-date match, not a photo taken on your date. Independent of NASA.
Higher than the highest mountain, higher than the highest airplane, lies the realm of the aurora. Aurora rarely reach below 60 kilometers, and can range up to 1000 kilometers. Aurora light results from solar electrons and protons striking molecules in the Earth's atmosphere. Frequently, when viewed from space, a complete aurora will appear as a circle around one of the Earth's magnetic poles. The above photograph was taken in January in Alaska and shows a spectacular aurora borealis above a frozen landscape which includes spruce trees and the photographer's truck. The picture had to be taken quickly as the temperature was below -40 degrees.
Image credit: D. Hutchinson