This image was taken in the Boreal Forest of Manitoba, Canada in the late hours of the night. A dead calm silence was occasionally broken by the creaking and cracking sounds of tree limbs slowly twisting and churning from the frigid winter temperatures. The haunting sounds of foot steps crunching in the snow sends chills of fear up ones spine! - Is it a polar bear? No - just a fox or a hare! When the worlds greatest light show finally begins, a surreal peaceful feeling soon envelopes ones soul only to be awakened by the biting chill of the sub-arctic air. After a short burst or two of swirling and dancing lights across the evening sky, it's all over, only to repeat another performance minutes later. Sometimes the physical pain from the freezing cold supersedes all other senses and a nice cozy cabin with a hot crackling fire soon permeates ones desires. A cup of hot chocolate and the warmth of the fire are soon greeted with great anticipation, then back outside into the biting cold and the night watch continues through the early hours of the morning sky. The aurora borealis is created in the earth's upper atmosphere when positively charged particles(ions) and gases in the atmosphere collide causing an ignition of the gases which in turn illuminates the sky in a brilliant display of various neon colors. The earth's magnetic field and solar sun spots have great influence on the amount of aurora activity, greater solar activity is directly proportional to greater aurora activity.There is many different factors which effect the intensity and color of aurora, atmospheric clarity being the primary prerequisite for best viewing.The aurora is continually emitting its brilliant display 24 hours a day but only on clear nights does it come to life in what some people describe as a religious experience if seen in full IBC-3 intensity. IBC-3 is the International Brightness Coefficient for the maximum lumens given off while the aurora is in the sky & viewed at night. I have seen the IBC-3 several times and all I have to say is, "this is such a beautiful planet at times"! In my opinion when you see an IBC-3 aurora in all pink it is the most superb... regardless, any aurora in IBC-3 is awesome! Believe it or not, you can actually read a pocket book under IBC-3 no problem, that's how bright it is! | 
