Photo of the Week for October 18, 2013

Many astrophotographers have been left wondering: What has happened to the spectacular displays of auroras? Though we are currently in solar maximum, which should be producing easily visible auroras with greater frequency, this cycle has fallen flat in comparison to the last maximum period of 2001-2004. However, for those who live in the far northern reaches of Canada, auroras are usually a common occurrence no matter what part of the solar cycle we are in. Chris Kelly of Lutsel K’e, Northwest Territories, captured this pretty image on August 31 using a Nikon D3100 camera. Using a Nikkor lens operating at f/8, he took a 21 second exposure at ISO 400.