Aurora, Taken by Dieter M. Zube on September 2, 2025 @ Haukadalur hot springs, Iceland
Nitrogen Ruled: The Purple Color of N2+
SPACEWEATHER.COM NEWS: 09/03/2025
PURPLE NITROGEN AURORAS: Earth’s atmosphere is mostly nitrogen (78%), yet auroras are seldom the color of this omnipresent molecule. Usually, oxygen paints the Northern Lights with its colors–red and green. Yet during this week’s geomagnetic storm, nitrogen ruled. The purple color of N2+ is everywhere in this Sept. 2nd photo from the Haukadalur hot springs in Iceland:
