Superior AurorasA burst of solar wind—charged particles from the sun—struck Earth on Tuesday, triggering auroras as far south as Michigan, as seen in this picture taken from the shores of Lake Superior in Marquette. "Just saw some amazing aurora this morning. Color was unreal. Haven't seen this kind of activity in awhile," photographer Shawn Malone said in an email. (Watch a time-lapse video of auroras seen from a plane window.)
Photograph by Shawn Malone

Space Pictures This Week: Aurora Sunrise, "Sliced" Moon

An aurora lights up Lake Superior, galaxies make a cosmic lens, a tiny moon gets "sliced," and more in the week's best space pictures.

April 14, 2011