A twisting ribbon of bright green light dominates this view of the dazzling Sept. 9, 2011 northern lights display captured by photographer and skywatcher Don Arsenault in northern Alberta, Canada.
Skywatcher and photographer Zach Williams of Grand Forks, North Dakota, snapped this stunning view of the northern lights display on Sept. 6, 2011 during a strong geomagnetic storm. The stars of the Big Dipper, part of the constellation Ursa Major, shine in the dazzling scene. Says Williams: "This was something I've waited my whole life to see!"
Skywatcher and photographer Don Arsenault snapped this view of the bright northern lights over northern Alberta, Canada on Sept. 9, 2011.
Bob Donner got this aurora shot on August 5, 2011, at Suomi, Minnesota.
Astronaut Ron Garan took this photo of the northern lights from the International Space Station. Garan tweeted the photo on Sept. 11, 2011.
Skywatcher Shauna Stanyer captured this shot of the super-charged aurora on Sept. 9, 2011, about one hour north of Prince George, British Columbia, Canada.
A wisp of aurora arcs over a serene lake in this spectacular photo captured by skywatcher and photographer Don Arsenault on Sept. 10, 2011 during a dazzling northern lights display.
Skywatcher and photographer Colin Chatfield snapped this amazing aurora view on Aug. 5, 2011 from just outside Saskatoon in Saskatchewan, Canada, using a Canon 40D and Tokina 10-17mm fisheye lens. A meteor and eerie blue hue are visible in the upper left.
Skywatcher Dan Stanyer set his camera down on the road to take this picture of the aurora on Sept. 9, 2011 near Prince George, British Columbia, Canada.
John Stetson photographed the aurora over Sebago Lake, Maine, August 5, 2011.
Photographer Scott Lowther said, "The auroras were just barely visible to the naked eye here in Utah as a pink glowing dome on the northern horizon. But my camera (a Nikon D5000) was able to make out structure."
Colin Chatfield captured this shot of the super-charged aurora on Sept. 9, 2011 from his backyard in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Photographer Robert Berdan said, "One of the first photos I took, the cloud on the right is part of a storm that passed over and is heading toward Calgary. The orange glow is from the lights of Calgary reflecting off the clouds."
Photographer Greg Kretovic of Marquette, Michigan (Upper Peninsula) said, "It was amazing seeing them move from the Lake Superior horizon to overhead."
Skywatcher and photographer Colin Chatfield snapped this amazing aurora view on Aug. 5, 2011 from just outside Saskatoon in Saskatchewan, Canada, using a Canon 40D and Tokina 10-17mm fisheye lens.
Photographers Agnieszka and Friedrich Deters said, "With thunderstorms in the area, we had to travel north to find enough clear skies so we could look for the northern lights. The trip paid off! The expression on our faces as we spotted the northern lights for the first time through the clouds was emotional."
Photographer Lance Taylor caught the aurora at the Cooking Lake Blackfoot area near Edmonton, AB, on August 6, 2011.
Photographer Warren Justice said, ". With clouds ever present the sky glowed with an eerie ghost-like atmosphere."
Skywatcher and photographer Colin Chatfield snapped this amazing aurora view on Aug. 5, 2011 from just outside Saskatoon in Saskatchewan, Canada, using a Canon 40D and Tokina 10-17mm fisheye lens.
Photographer Ray Stinson caught the aurora at Glacier National Park in Montana on August 5, 2011.
Photographer Kamila Mazurkiewicz captured the aurora near Pulawy, Poland, August 5, 2011.
Sylvain Serre of Ivujivik, Quebec, Canada, captured this aurora shot on September 3, 2011. He commented: "For the first time of the season, there was a clear sky in the Northern village of Ivujivik (the highest point in Quebec)."
Brandon Lovett of Fairbanks, Alaska, got this aurora picture on September 3, 2011.
Skywatcher Travis Novitsky captured this image of an aurora from Northeast Minnesota, United States, on September 26, 2011,
Skywatcher Travis Novitsky captured this other image of an aurora from Northeast Minnesota, United States, on September 26, 2011,
