Discover the cosmosEach day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
Explanation:What a cosmic coincidence
Intoday’s image, Marsjoins the Beehive cluster below anauroral curtainand above a horizon ofhappy little treesnear Lansjärv, Sweden.
Aneruption off the Sunreached Earth onOctober 10th, 2026causing strongdisturbances in Earth’s magnetic field.
Energetic particlesfrom the eruption collide with and energize the molecules in Earth’s atmosphere, which release that extra energy as the colorfulauroracaptured here.
Auroras, or guovssahasat in North Sámi, is traditionally viewed with respect by theSámi peopleindigenous to Sweden and other Arctic regions.
Coincidentally, Marsappeared closestto the center of the Beehive cluster in the sky at the time.
Althoughbees have been to space, the Beehive cluster is actually a swarm of young stars.
Their rotation periodshave helped humanity learn about howstars spin slower over timeas they lose mass through theirstellar winds.
Tomorrow’s picture:open space