AURORA SEASON' IS UNDERWAY: Around the Arctic Circle, the end of summer is greeted with mixed feelings. The midnight sun sets, taking its cheerful rays below the horizon. The air might not be warm again for months. The onset of cold, however, brings something wonderful to behold. This:

"A new season with Northern Lights has started in northern Norway," reports photographer Kristin Berg, who took this picture on Sept. 2nd from Tromsø. "What a night! "

Northern Lights are returning to the Arctic for two reasons. The first is simple: It's getting dark. The exit of the midnight sun is leaving velvety-dark skies where geomagnetic storms can paint their colors. The second is a little more complicated. During the weeks around equinoxes, the tilt of the interplanetary magnetic field favors geomagnetic storms. Even gentle gusts of solar wind can spark bright outbursts of light.

Aurora season has definitely begun. Monitor the photo gallery for more sightings:

Realtime Aurora Photo Gallery

http://spaceweather.com/