Satellite Imagery of Aurora Borealis Over Alaska

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Did you get a chance to see the aurora last night? If not, our polar-orbiting satellite caught this great shot for you! This imagery utilizes the VIIRS Day/Night Band (DNB). The DNB features a highly sensitive low-light sensor capable of detecting nighttime visible light emissions, allowing us to observe the aurora borealis from low Earth orbit. Captured at 3:57 AM AKST, this imagery reveals an active auroral oval stretching across Alaska, in addition to the brighter lights of Alaskan cities and the oil fields on the North Slope. #akwx