The Astronomy Picture of the Day for October 31, 2026, presents a haunting view of planet Earth rather than a distant world. The scene was photographed at Hverir, a geothermally active region in northeastern Iceland’s volcanic landscape.
Steam and gas rising from local fumaroles form ghostly towers beneath a dark, stormy sky. Behind them, greenish auroras appear after geomagnetic storms sent energetic particles into Earth’s magnetic field.
At high latitudes, those particles penetrate the upper atmosphere and produce the auroral displays visible across the starry sky. The image’s explanation notes that auroral activity remains high while the Sun is still in the early stages of declining from the peak of its activity cycle.
The Halloween-themed APOD closes by suggesting that more auroral apparitions could soon be visible in local skies.
Sources: NASA Breaking News.