<p><strong>Although they've been together for about 4.5 billion years, the sun and Earth still seem to have a downright electric relationship, based on a colorful show of northern lights seen on Valentine's Day. Above, a short but stunning aurora lights up the sky over Bø in Vesterålen, <a id="hzig" title="Norway" href="http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/norway-guide/">Norway</a>.</strong></p><p>Such displays occur when the sun sends a burst of charged particles coursing toward Earth. A recent uptick in these so-called coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, that started Sunday has increased aurora activity throughout the week.</p><p>(See <a id="dyyt" title=""Biggest Solar Flare in Four Years."" href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/02/110216-largest-biggest-solar-flare-sun-sunspot-1158-science-space-nasa/">"Biggest Solar Flare in Four Years."</a>)</p><p><em>—Andrew Howley</em></p>
Electric Valentine
Although they've been together for about 4.5 billion years, the sun and Earth still seem to have a downright electric relationship, based on a colorful show of northern lights seen on Valentine's Day. Above, a short but stunning aurora lights up the sky over Bø in Vesterålen, Norway.
Such displays occur when the sun sends a burst of charged particles coursing toward Earth. A recent uptick in these so-called coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, that started Sunday has increased aurora activity throughout the week.
(See "Biggest Solar Flare in Four Years.")
—Andrew Howley
New Aurora Pictures: Solar Storms Light Up Arctic Night
Shimmering curtains of neon color added sparkle to Valentine's Day, as bursts of particles from the sun triggered brilliant auroras.
