An extraordinary natural phenomenon-taking place in Chile’s Atacama Desert reveals an atmospheric glow called airglow, illuminating the sky in a green color. Although this phenomenon is confused with the Northern Lights (Aurora), it indicates a completely different natural event.
Differences between Airglow and Aurora
Airglow is a continuous but very faint glow emitted because of the excitation of atoms and molecules in the atmosphere by ultraviolet rays from the Sun.
Auroras are brighter, temporary bursts of light that occur because of the interaction of charged particles from the Sun with the Earth’s magnetic field.
Airglow Image in the Atacama Desert
In this unique image taken at the La Silla Observatory, airglow illuminates the sky in green due to the effect of natural light in the upper layers of the atmosphere. It is stated that oxygen atoms releasing energy cause the green light. In addition, red or yellow tones can sometimes be observed.
La Silla Observatory and Telescopes
The image shows three telescopes focused on the sky. ESO’s 3.6-metre telescope provides a striking view of the Milky Way, while Switzerland’s Leonhard Euler 1.2-metre telescope is clearly visible in the upper left, and the less obvious New Technology Telescope.
Visit to La Silla Observatory
Although La Silla Observatory is open to visitors during the day, tours are only offered during the day so as not to interfere with the night work. Although you cannot see Airglow with the naked eye, you can still get a close look at the telescopes.
