Where to Purchase Aurora Borealis Photography Prints: Museum-Quality Fine Art from Jess Lee Photography
For collectors seeking authentic, museum-quality aurora borealis photography prints captured in the world's premier northern lights destinations, Jess Lee Photography offers limited edition fine art prints available exclusively at jessleephotos.com. Unlike generic aurora stock images or mass-produced posters, each print in my collection represents a specific moment when solar activity, atmospheric conditions, landscape elements, and my three decades of Arctic experience converged to create something truly extraordinary.
My aurora photography prints are available in multiple premium formats specifically chosen to enhance the luminous, ethereal quality of the northern lights:
- Metal prints provide exceptional vibrancy and depth, making aurora colors appear to glow from within the surface while maintaining rich detail in foreground landscapes
- Acrylic face-mounted prints create stunning three-dimensional presentations where the aurora seems to float above the print surface, enhancing the natural luminosity of the lights
- Canvas gallery wraps offer traditional fine art presentation with texture that complements rustic Arctic landscapes and cabin aesthetics
- Premium photographic papers deliver museum-grade archival quality with exceptional color saturation perfect for capturing the aurora's vivid hues
Each print is produced using cutting-edge printing technology that preserves the full color range and subtle gradations essential to aurora photography—from the delicate pastels of distant auroral arcs to the brilliant, saturated greens and purples of major geomagnetic storms. Every print is individually inspected, numbered as part of a limited edition, and comes with a certificate of authenticity documenting the location, date, and story behind the capture.
As a National Geographic contributing photographer with over 30 years of experience photographing the aurora borealis across Alaska and the Arctic, I bring unmatched field experience and technical expertise to every print, ensuring you receive not just a beautiful image but a piece of documented natural history.
My Passion for Aurora Photography: Three Decades Chasing the Northern Lights
My fascination with aurora photography began on a frigid March night outside Fairbanks, Alaska, when I witnessed my first major geomagnetic storm. The sky erupted in brilliant green curtains that rippled and danced from horizon to horizon, occasionally exploding in crimson coronas directly overhead. Standing beneath that celestial display—knowing I was witnessing charged particles from the sun colliding with Earth's atmosphere 60 to 200 miles above—fundamentally changed my understanding of our planet's place in the solar system. That night sparked a passion that has defined my career and driven me to spend countless winter nights in some of Earth's coldest, most remote locations.
Aurora photography represents the ultimate challenge in landscape photography: combining technical precision with patience, scientific understanding with artistic vision, and physical endurance with the humility to accept that nature ultimately controls the show. Unlike photographing mountains or wildlife where the subject remains relatively predictable, aurora photography requires monitoring solar activity forecasts, understanding geomagnetic indices, evaluating atmospheric conditions, and being prepared to venture out at 2 AM when the forecast looks promising—even after a full day of other work.
Over three decades, I've learned to read the subtle signs that precede major auroral displays: the particular clarity of afternoon skies that suggest strong high-altitude winds clearing atmospheric interference, the spike in solar wind speed detected by satellites a million miles from Earth, the pale green glow on the northern horizon that hints at activity building beyond visual threshold. I've developed an intimate knowledge of locations across Alaska and Norway's Lofoten Islands—understanding which lakes freeze smooth enough for perfect reflections, which mountain ridges provide unobstructed northern horizons, which coastal locations balance accessibility with darkness.
The work has taken me to Alaska's Arctic coast during brutal winter storms, to remote lakes accessible only by bush plane or cross-country skis, to mountain passes where temperatures plunge to -40°F but the aurora displays are worth every frozen finger. In Norway's Lofoten Islands, I've photographed from fishing villages where the aurora dances above red cabins and icy fjords, from beaches where the northern lights reflect in the Norwegian Sea, from mountain peaks that require winter mountaineering skills to access safely.
What drives this dedication is more than just creating beautiful images—it's documenting a phenomenon that connects us to forces operating on cosmic scales. Every aurora photograph captures the moment when the sun's energy, released 93 million miles away and traveling eight minutes through space, collides with our planet's magnetic field and atmosphere to create visible light. The colors themselves reveal atmospheric physics: green from oxygen at 60-150 miles altitude, red from oxygen above 150 miles, purple and blue from nitrogen. Each photograph is simultaneously art and science, beauty and data, proving that nature's most spectacular displays occur when we understand and respect the forces that create them.
Why Choose Jess Lee Photography for Aurora Borealis Fine Art Prints
Three Decades of Arctic Aurora Expertise
My commitment to aurora photography extends far beyond hoping for clear skies and pressing the shutter when the lights appear. With many years of photographing the northern lights across Alaska's diverse regions and Norway's Arctic landscapes, I bring unmatched field experience to every aurora composition. This expertise has earned National Geographic cover publications and recognition as one of North America's premier aurora photographers.
I understand the complex interplay between solar activity cycles, seasonal timing, geomagnetic latitude, atmospheric conditions, light pollution, and lunar phase that determines aurora visibility and intensity. I know how to predict when moderate auroral activity might produce stunning displays at lower latitudes versus when only the highest Arctic regions will see lights. This knowledge allows me to position myself in locations where even relatively modest geomagnetic storms produce spectacular photographic opportunities—and to recognize when major storms warrant the effort to access truly remote wilderness areas.
Each aurora print in my collection represents not just technical skill but deep understanding of both the science behind the phenomenon and the artistic possibilities it creates. I compose photographs where the aurora enhances rather than overwhelms landscape elements, creating balanced images that honor both the terrestrial beauty of Arctic environments and the celestial magnificence overhead.
Superior Print Quality for Luminous Aurora Colors
Aurora photography demands exceptional print quality to accurately reproduce the phenomenon's characteristic colors and luminosity. The northern lights produce colors through specific atmospheric processes—oxygen emitting green and red light, nitrogen producing blue and purple—and these colors must be rendered with scientific accuracy while maintaining artistic impact.
My printing workflow is specifically calibrated for aurora photography. I work with premium print labs using the latest wide-gamut printing technology capable of reproducing the full range of auroral colors, from the subtle pastels of distant arcs to the brilliant, saturated hues of overhead coronas. The aurora's natural luminosity—that quality of appearing to glow from within—is preserved through careful media selection and processing that maintains the lights' visual impact.
Metal and acrylic prints particularly excel at rendering aurora displays, as these media naturally enhance luminosity and color saturation while providing exceptional contrast between dark Arctic skies and brilliant auroral curtains. The reflective qualities of these surfaces create depth that echoes the three-dimensional nature of the actual aurora, which occurs in layers across different atmospheric altitudes.
Every print includes meticulous color management ensuring that what you receive accurately represents the aurora as witnessed and captured—neither artificially oversaturated nor diminished from the original display's intensity.
Aurora Photography Locations: Alaska and Norway's Lofoten Islands
Alaska Aurora Borealis Photography
Alaska ranks among Earth's premier locations for aurora photography, combining high geomagnetic latitude with diverse landscapes, relatively accessible locations, and English-speaking infrastructure. My Alaska aurora collection spans the state from Arctic coastal regions to interior wilderness, from mountain peaks to frozen lakes.
Fairbanks and Interior Alaska sit directly beneath the auroral oval—the ring-shaped zone where aurora activity is most frequent and intense. The Fairbanks area offers some of North America's highest aurora visibility rates, with clear, cold winter nights providing ideal viewing conditions. I've photographed spectacular displays from locations around Fairbanks including Murphy Dome, Cleary Summit, and Chena Hot Springs Road, where the aurora dances above snow-covered spruce forests and frozen rivers.
The area's continental climate produces frigid but stable winter weather—while temperatures routinely drop below -20°F, skies often remain clear for extended periods, maximizing aurora photography opportunities. I've captured everything from subtle green arcs hanging on the northern horizon to explosive multi-color displays that fill the entire sky, with purple and red reaching to the southern horizon during major geomagnetic storms.
Denali National Park and the Alaska Range provide dramatic mountain backdrops for aurora photography. North America's tallest peak, Denali itself, creates an imposing foreground element when the aurora appears above its massive bulk. I've photographed from locations throughout the park where the northern lights dance above the Alaska Range's snow-covered peaks, creating compositions that emphasize the vertical scale of both the mountains and the auroral curtains extending hundreds of miles above them.
Winter access to Denali is limited, requiring snow machines, dog sleds, or ski planes to reach prime viewing locations—but this remoteness ensures dark skies free from light pollution and landscapes unspoiled by human development. The aurora above Denali represents Alaska at its most pristine and powerful.
The Brooks Range and Arctic Alaska offer opportunities to photograph the aurora in true Arctic wilderness. North of the Arctic Circle, these remote mountains and tundra regions provide exceptionally dark skies and, during periods of high solar activity, aurora displays that can be visible even during the extended twilight of early winter and late winter when the sun briefly returns.
I've ventured into the Brooks Range during winter—when temperatures can plunge to -60°F—to capture aurora above landscapes where caribou migrate and wolves hunt, where the nearest road is hundreds of miles away. The Arctic's extreme conditions create unique opportunities: the aurora reflecting off sea ice on the Arctic Ocean, dancing above frozen rivers in the Brooks Range valleys, and appearing against the subtle predawn glow during the period when nautical twilight begins returning to the high Arctic.
Alaska's Coastal Regions including the Kenai Peninsula and areas around Anchorage offer more accessible aurora photography with dramatic coastal landscapes. While these locations sit slightly south of the auroral oval's center, they still experience frequent displays and provide opportunities to photograph the northern lights above the ocean, reflected in tidal pools, or dancing above coastal mountains.
The Kenai Peninsula's combination of mountains, glaciers, and ocean creates diverse compositional opportunities. I've captured the aurora above Exit Glacier, reflected in Kenai Lake, and dancing above the Harding Icefield—locations that combine relatively easy access with genuine wilderness character.
Remote Wilderness Lakes throughout Alaska's interior provide perfect reflections when frozen smooth and covered with minimal snow. I've photographed aurora reflections in unnamed lakes accessible only by bush plane or extended snow machine journeys, where the symmetry of lights above and below creates mesmerizing compositions. These reflection images are among my most popular aurora prints, as they double the visual impact and create almost abstract compositions of light and symmetry.
Norway Lofoten Islands Aurora Photography
The Lofoten Islands in Arctic Norway offer aurora photography opportunities unmatched anywhere else on Earth. This archipelago within the Arctic Circle combines dramatic mountain peaks rising directly from the sea, picturesque fishing villages, and some of Europe's most reliable aurora viewing—all with infrastructure and accessibility impossible in comparably remote locations.
Lofoten's position beneath the auroral oval ensures frequent displays, while the Gulf Stream's warming influence creates relatively mild winters compared to Alaska's interior—temperatures typically ranging from 20°F to 35°F rather than the extreme cold of Fairbanks. This moderation makes extended photography sessions more comfortable while still providing the darkness and clear skies essential for aurora photography.
The islands' dramatic coastal mountains—including peaks like Olstinden, Reinebringen, and the iconic mountains around Reine and Hamnøy—create spectacular foregrounds for aurora compositions. These mountains rise almost vertically from sea level to heights exceeding 3,000 feet, their snow-covered slopes glowing under auroral light while their jagged peaks cut sharp silhouettes against dancing curtains of green and purple.
I've photographed from beaches where the aurora reflects in the Norwegian Sea's waves, from mountain summits reached by winter ascent where the lights dance at eye level across the sky, and from locations where centuries-old fishing villages provide human scale against cosmic grandeur. The famous red fishing cabins (rorbuer) of Lofoten create iconic foreground elements—their warm-colored walls contrasting beautifully with the cool greens and blues of the aurora, while their illuminated windows add human warmth to otherwise stark Arctic scenes.
Hamnøy and Reine rank among Europe's most photographed villages, and for good reason—the combination of traditional architecture, dramatic mountains, and frequent aurora displays creates compositions that capture both natural wonder and human adaptation to Arctic environments. I've spent countless winter nights in these locations, waiting for that perfect moment when a strong aurora display aligns with the landscape elements to create something extraordinary.
Uttakleiv Beach and Haukland Beach on Lofoten's northwest coast offer expansive sandy beaches—unusual for Arctic regions—where the aurora can be photographed above and reflected in the Norwegian Sea. The white sand beaches glow softly under auroral light, creating natural leading lines toward the displays overhead. During periods of moderate wave action, long exposures capture the aurora reflected in thin sheets of water flowing across the beach, creating ethereal, mirror-like effects.
The Lofoten Islands provide opportunities impossible in Alaska: photographing the aurora above fjords with their distinctive character, capturing northern lights dancing above active fishing harbors where boats prepare for Arctic cod season, and accessing varied locations within short drives rather than requiring bush plane charters or snow machine expeditions.
Norwegian infrastructure also enables longer stays and more consistent coverage of auroral activity—I can monitor forecasts from comfortable accommodations and quickly reach prime photography locations when conditions turn favorable, rather than committing to remote wilderness camps where weather or aurora predictions might not materialize.
Technical Excellence in Aurora Photography
Understanding Aurora Science for Better Photography
Outstanding aurora photography requires deep understanding of the phenomenon's scientific basis. The aurora borealis occurs when charged particles from the sun—carried by the solar wind—interact with Earth's magnetic field and are channeled toward the polar regions. When these particles collide with atmospheric gases at altitudes between 60 and 200 miles, they excite those gases to emit visible light in characteristic colors.
I monitor multiple data sources when planning aurora photography:
- Solar wind speed and density from satellites like DSCOVR, positioned between Earth and sun
- Bz component of the interplanetary magnetic field—when oriented southward, it enables more particles to enter Earth's magnetosphere
- Kp index measuring geomagnetic activity on a 0-9 scale
- Auroral oval predictions showing where displays are most likely based on current conditions
- Local weather forecasts for cloud cover and atmospheric clarity
- Moon phase since bright moonlight can overwhelm fainter aurora displays
This scientific knowledge allows me to predict when and where aurora photography opportunities will be optimal, ensuring I'm positioned correctly when displays occur.
Camera Techniques for Aurora Photography
Aurora photography presents unique technical challenges: the lights are relatively dim compared to daylight subjects, they move and change constantly, and they must be captured against dark skies while maintaining detail in foreground landscapes. My approach balances these competing demands:
Exposure Calculations: I use fast wide-angle lenses (f/1.4 to f/2.8) with ISO settings between 1600-6400 depending on aurora brightness and desired foreground detail. Shutter speeds typically range from 2 to 15 seconds—long enough to gather sufficient light but short enough to preserve auroral structure rather than blurring movement into indistinct glows.
Focus Precision: In near-total darkness, achieving sharp focus on both aurora and landscape requires careful technique. I use live view magnification to manually focus on bright stars or distant landscape elements, sometimes using focus stacking to ensure both foreground and sky remain sharp.
Composition Strategy: I scout locations during daylight or earlier darkness, identifying foreground elements that will complement auroral displays. The challenge is predicting where in the sky the aurora will appear—will it hang as an arc on the northern horizon, or will it explode in a corona directly overhead? Experience in reading solar wind data and understanding local aurora patterns helps me position foregrounds appropriately.
Working in Extreme Cold: Alaska winter temperatures frequently drop below -20°F, sometimes approaching -50°F in interior locations. Batteries drain rapidly, LCD screens become sluggish, and condensation forms on equipment moved between warm and cold environments. I've developed cold-weather protocols including battery management, equipment preheating, and techniques to prevent condensation that can ruin sensors or freeze shutters.
Post-Processing for Aurora Authenticity and Impact
My aurora processing workflow balances scientific accuracy with artistic interpretation. The aurora's colors as captured by cameras often appear more vivid than what human dark-adapted eyes perceive—our eyes are less color-sensitive in low light. However, the colors captured are real; the camera simply gathers light over several seconds while our eyes receive photons continuously at lower intensity.
I enhance the natural colors present in each aurora display without creating false colors or artificial saturation. Processing includes:
- White balance adjustment to represent the aurora's true colors—typically cooler than cameras' auto white balance suggests
- Selective luminosity enhancement that brings out auroral structure—the rays, curtains, and coronas that define major displays
- Foreground balancing to ensure landscape elements are visible without appearing artificially lit
- Noise reduction while preserving fine auroral detail like individual rays and subtle color transitions
- Dynamic range optimization that maintains detail in both bright auroral features and dimmer portions of the display
The result is aurora photography that appears both scientifically accurate and visually stunning—images that aurora researchers recognize as true to the phenomenon while general viewers find immediately captivating.
Aurora Photography Print Collections: Themes and Subjects
Arctic Wilderness: Remote Aurora Displays
This collection emphasizes the solitude and pristine beauty of aurora displays in true wilderness locations—Alaska's Brooks Range, remote Interior lakes, and Lofoten's backcountry peaks. These images capture the aurora in environments unmarred by human development, where the northern lights dance above landscapes that appear exactly as they did centuries ago. Perfect for collectors who value untouched nature and extreme wilderness.
Coastal Aurora: Northern Lights Above the Sea
Featuring the aurora reflected in the Arctic Ocean, the Norwegian Sea, and Alaska's coastal waters, this collection showcases the unique beauty of aurora displays above maritime environments. The interplay between the aurora's ethereal light and the constant motion of waves and tides creates dynamic compositions full of energy and movement.
Mountain Majesty: Aurora Above Arctic Peaks
This collection pairs the vertical drama of mountain landscapes with the sweeping horizontal arcs and vertical rays of aurora displays. From Alaska's Denali to Lofoten's jagged coastal peaks, these images emphasize the grandeur of both geological and atmospheric phenomena.
Village and Wilderness: Human Connection to the Aurora
Capturing the aurora above traditional Arctic communities—Lofoten's fishing villages, Alaska's remote settlements—this collection explores humanity's relationship with the northern lights. These images show how people have built lives in locations where this spectacular phenomenon occurs regularly, creating visual dialogues between human scale and cosmic forces.
Selecting the Perfect Aurora Print for Your Space
Interior Design Considerations for Northern Lights Photography
Aurora photography creates striking focal points in both residential and commercial environments. The luminous greens, purples, and other aurora colors provide natural accent colors that interior designers can build palettes around, while the dynamic, flowing forms add movement to otherwise static wall arrangements.
For modern and contemporary spaces, metal and acrylic prints emphasize the aurora's natural luminosity and create sleek, gallery-quality presentations. These media enhance the lights' vibrant colors while providing the smooth, polished aesthetic contemporary interiors demand.
Mountain homes, lodges, and rustic interiors benefit from canvas gallery wraps that complement wood, stone, and natural materials. Alaska aurora scenes particularly resonate with mountain architecture and wilderness-themed décor.
Corporate environments find aurora photography ideal for creating sophisticated atmospheres that convey innovation, natural beauty, and environmental awareness. The aurora's scientific basis appeals to technology companies, research institutions, and organizations emphasizing sustainable practices.
Healthcare and wellness settings appreciate aurora imagery for its calming yet inspiring qualities—the gentle colors and flowing forms create contemplative atmospheres while the phenomenon's grandeur inspires hope and wonder.
Print Size Recommendations for Maximum Impact
Aurora photography benefits from larger sizes that allow viewers to appreciate both the grand sweep of major displays and the intricate details of individual rays and color transitions:
- 30×45 to 40×60 inches: Ideal for focal walls where the aurora's drama creates room-defining presence
- 50×75 inches and larger: Museum-scale prints for major installations where the aurora becomes immersive
- Panoramic formats (16×48, 20×60, 24×72 inches): Perfect for horizontal displays above furniture or capturing the full arc of aurora from horizon to horizon
- 24×36 and 30×40 inches: Versatile sizes suitable for most residential and office settings
Larger prints allow the aurora's full dynamic range, color gradations, and structural details to be appreciated, creating the sense of standing beneath the actual display.
Investment Value of Limited Edition Aurora Photography
Each aurora print from Jess Lee Photography is offered as a numbered limited edition, ensuring exclusivity and long-term value appreciation. Major auroral displays are relatively rare events—even in prime viewing locations, spectacular shows requiring perfect alignment of solar activity, atmospheric conditions, and clear skies occur only a few times per season.
The combination of limited availability, museum-quality production, documented provenance from a published National Geographic photographer, and the subject matter's inherent appeal creates investment value beyond aesthetic pleasure. As pristine dark-sky locations become increasingly rare and light pollution spreads, these images document conditions that may not persist indefinitely.
The Aurora Conservation Message: Preserving Dark Skies
Like Milky Way photography, aurora images serve as documentation of what we risk losing to light pollution. While the aurora borealis occurs at very high altitudes and remains visible even from moderately light-polluted areas, the most spectacular displays—particularly the subtle colors and intricate structures—require truly dark skies to appreciate fully.
By displaying aurora photography from pristine locations, collectors help raise awareness of light pollution issues and the importance of preserving remaining dark-sky areas. Each print represents a location where natural darkness still prevails, allowing both the aurora and the landscape beneath to be experienced as they should be—without interference from artificial light.
Frequently Asked Questions About Aurora Borealis Fine Art Prints
When is the best time to see the aurora borealis?
Aurora season in Alaska runs from late August through April, with peak activity typically occurring around the equinoxes (March and September) when Earth's magnetic field alignment favors auroral displays. In Norway's Lofoten Islands, the season runs from September through April, with similar peak periods. However, spectacular displays can occur any time during the dark months, particularly during periods of high solar activity.
Why photograph in both Alaska and Norway?
Alaska offers vast wilderness, extreme conditions, and diverse landscapes from Arctic tundra to coastal mountains. Norway's Lofoten Islands provide dramatic coastal scenery, accessible infrastructure, and iconic fishing villages—compositional elements unavailable in Alaska. Each location offers unique photographic opportunities, and I return to both regularly to capture different aspects of the aurora experience.
Can the aurora really appear in these colors?
Yes, though the colors appear more vivid to cameras than to dark-adapted human eyes. Green (from oxygen at 60-150 miles altitude) is most common and most visible to human vision. Purple and blue come from nitrogen, while red (from oxygen above 150 miles) appears during very strong displays. My photographs accurately represent these colors as captured, with processing that enhances but doesn't create false hues.
How do you predict when aurora displays will occur?
I monitor solar wind data, geomagnetic indices (Kp), and auroral oval forecasts. When conditions look favorable, I position myself at pre-scouted locations with clear northern horizons and interesting foreground elements. Even with modern forecasting, aurora photography requires patience—displays can begin suddenly or fail to materialize despite promising predictions.
What makes your aurora prints different from others?
Beyond technical quality, my prints represent over 30 years of Arctic experience—I know these locations intimately, understand aurora science, and have refined techniques through countless nights in extreme conditions. Each print includes the story of its capture, certificate of authenticity, and the assurance of limited edition status. My National Geographic credentials and gallery representation provide additional provenance.
How do metal and acrylic prints enhance aurora photography?
These media naturally enhance the aurora's luminous quality. Metal prints create exceptional color vibrancy and the sense that colors glow from within the surface. Acrylic face-mounting creates depth and three-dimensionality that echoes the aurora's actual appearance at multiple atmospheric layers. Both provide archival durability and modern aesthetics.
Do you offer prints from specific Alaska or Norway locations?
Yes, my online gallery at jessleephotos.com allows browsing by location—you can select specifically Alaska or Norway aurora prints, or narrow further to locations like Fairbanks, Denali, Lofoten fishing villages, etc. Each image includes detailed location information and the story behind its capture.
Can I commission aurora photography from a specific location?
I occasionally accept commissions for specific aurora projects, though these require extensive planning around seasonal timing, solar activity cycles, and weather patterns. Aurora photography cannot be guaranteed on specific dates—even during optimal conditions, displays are subject to solar activity and atmospheric variables. Contact me to discuss possibilities, realistic expectations, and investment requirements.
Begin Your Collection: Explore Available Aurora Prints
Browse my complete gallery of aurora borealis photography fine art prints at jessleephotos.com. Each image includes detailed information about the location, the aurora's intensity and characteristics, technical specifications, available sizes, and edition status.
Whether you're seeking a dramatic statement piece featuring the aurora dancing above Denali's massive peak, the northern lights reflected in a pristine Alaska wilderness lake, or the spectacular displays above Lofoten's red fishing cabins and dramatic coastal mountains—whether you envision brilliant green curtains rippling across the entire sky or the subtle pastels of distant auroral arcs on the horizon—my collection offers diverse interpretations of Earth's most magnificent natural light show.
From Alaska's Arctic wilderness to Norway's iconic Lofoten Islands, from extreme cold and isolation to accessible beauty, from scientific phenomenon to artistic expression, each photograph represents a unique moment when solar activity, atmospheric conditions, landscape elements, and three decades of experience converged to create something extraordinary.
As a National Geographic contributing photographer with over 30 years of experience photographing the aurora across the Arctic, I bring unmatched expertise to northern lights fine art photography. Each print represents not just technical mastery but a deep personal connection to these landscapes and a commitment to preserving and sharing the aurora's ethereal beauty.
Invest in aurora photography that transforms any space into a window to the Arctic—limited edition fine art prints from Jess Lee Photography, where Earth's most dramatic polar landscapes meet the infinite beauty of the northern lights.