APOD: Ghost Aurora over Canada (2016 Oct 31)

[APOD Robot]

Ghost Aurora over Canada

Explanation: What does this aurora look like to you? While braving the cold to watch the skies above northern Canada early one morning in 2013, a most unusual aurora appeared. The aurora definitely appeared to be shaped like something , but what? Two ghostly possibilities recorded by the astrophotographer were "witch" and "goddess of dawn", but please feel free to suggest your own Halloween-enhanced impressions. Regardless of fantastical pareidolic interpretations, the pictured aurora had a typical green color and was surely caused by the scientifically commonplace action of high energy particles from space interacting with oxygen in Earth's upper atmosphere. In the image foreground, at the bottom, is a frozen Alexandra Falls, while evergreen trees cross the middle.

<< Previous APOD

This Day in APOD

Next APOD >>

[/b]

[Isnluce]

The Aurora looks like a female Deity or Spirit with an Eagle flying over head.
Beautifu!!!

[Botswana O'Hooligan]

I would call it an angel aurora for that's what it looks like to this old aviator.

[claymartinek@gmail.com]

The lady and the hawk! From the movie Ladyhawke. It looks like they met in the Sky.

[trawnajim]

Gandalf Greybeard

[Alan Kennedy]

I see an angelic type of figure with a white dove

[Boomer12k]

Not a ghost... it's GANDOLF...long beard, hat...etc... I see it is not just me...

:---[===] *

[Milky Waster]

Just call me Angel of the Morning.

[Steve K]

I think it's the ghost of Phyllis Diller

[ErikGunther]

It looks exactly like Lake Michigan... haunted of course by the spirits of the 300 victims of the wreck of the Lady Elgin... but still like Lake Michigan.

[Guest]

Königin der Nacht from Mozart's opera Die Zauberflöte.

[Thewildwoman]

Definitely an angel watching over us.

[Keyman]

Carole Channing in Hello Dolly

[heehaw]

Looks to me like a dove flying above the risen Christ. Of course people see things in tea leaves, too.

[neufer]

I think it's the ghost of Phyllis Diller

If you look hard you can just make out 'Fang' lurking in the woods.

[dagemini]

Super Eagle hauling away one big rabbit.

[Joe Stieber]

I haven't seen any comments regarding the background star field yet, but a couple of reference points to get started are revealed in the spoiler.

Arcturus is the bright star to the left of the "ghost" and the stick figure of Leo is about at the same height, with the Sickle near the right edge of the frame (the last star of the Sickle's curve is cut off by the edge). In between, faintly visible in the ghost, is the Coma Star Cluster (Melotte 111).

[ta152h0]

The great Poobah)s that run the sky have great timing. ( and the little poobahs that live under that sky have great imaginations }

[justpassingthru]

I picture three apparitions
a great bird and in front of that stands a man the guardian
he overwatches and protects the sorceress who sits before with long flowing hair
in her arms she holds their child


a family portrait

[Baz]

Agree with trawnajim definitely Gandolf the Grey

[MTSkull2]

10-31-2016
The APOD I saw today, about an aurora, they said to name the "apparition". One called it "witches" and another called it "goddess of dawn". While I like those too, I've always thought of it as "angel of the lights" and have seen it several times when we have had a full sky aurora. I saw mention of an eagle above the head, a second look at the photo and I could see a bird there. The bird doesn't look so much like an eagle because of the long tail. The picture looks more like a Bird of Paradise to me (IMHO). Next time, I will look up and see the "angel of the lights" with a "bird of paradise" flying overhead. Beautiful picture, nice thoughts. What more could you ask of nature's beauty? Keep looking up, friends!

[w-t]

How is it possible that no-one else could see that it's Yosemite Sam? It could not be more obvious.

[Chris Peterson]

How is it possible that no-one else could see that it's Yosemite Sam? It could not be more obvious.

I'd go with Asterix.

[Doug F.]

At first, I first saw an eagle flying over the head of Moses.
But now, all I can see is Carol Channing -- thanks, APOD.

[Sisarenee]

Phoenix rising amidst the flame smoke and ashes. Or Gandalf