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APOD: 2026 January 1 - Auroral Corona

A spectacular 21-frame panoramic mosaic of an auroral corona over Kirkjufell, Iceland, captured during a strong geomagnetic storm in March 2025.

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APOD: 2026 January 1 - Auroral Corona

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APOD: 2026 January 1 - Auroral Corona

Summary: A vibrant auroral corona illuminates the night sky over Kirkjufell, Iceland, in this panoramic mosaic from March 2025.

This image, featured as the Astronomy Picture of the Day on January 1, 2026, showcases a stunning auroral corona—energetic curtains of light streaming directly overhead—captured over the iconic Kirkjufell mountain in Iceland. The display occurred during a strong geomagnetic storm triggered by intense solar activity near the March 2025 equinox. The image is a 21-frame panoramic mosaic, highlighting the vivid green and pink hues characteristic of high-latitude auroral activity during the Cycle 25 solar maximum.

Document outline

1. Introduction to the Auroral Corona image 2. Location and context: Kirkjufell, Iceland 3. Scientific background: Solar Cycle 25 and geomagnetic storms 4. Technical details: 21-frame panoramic mosaic 5. Image credit and copyright information

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7 days: 9,018

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