"Rare 'Aurora Curls' Ripple Through Northern Lights in Striking New Images"

Astrophotographer Jeff Dai captured a rare sight of "aurora curls" rippling through the northern lights above Kerid Crater in Iceland on Jan. 16. These curls result from large waves traveling through Earth's magnetic field, causing the magnetosphere to "ring like a bell." The energetic particles triggered a bright aurora light show, illuminating the wave across the sky, and the scene is particularly special as such pulsations are normally only visible to highly sensitive magnetic instruments. Aurora displays have been impressive in recent years due to heightened solar activity, with more dazzling shows expected as the sun builds towards a peak in its 11-year solar activity cycle in 2024.