Airglow Explosion Over the Atacama Desert

From the photographer: “Why the sky looks so colorful? An extraordinary multi-color light filled the sky during the capture of this image in March 2022 in the Antofagasta region in Chile. The night sky is not 100% dark even in places like the Atacama Desert where is almost zero light pollution, the effect of the ultraviolet rays on the nitrogen and oxygen molecules during the day is responsible for bringing light to the sky at night, this reaction is known as chemiluminescence where take place the atoms and molecules’ excitement 80 km or higher in the thermosphere. In the airglow spectrum, the brightest and most common emission is green 558nm light from the atomic oxygen radiation but in some cases, we can capture red light from OH radicals at 86-87km and yellow light from sodium atoms altogether.”

Technical details: Panorama 40 singles images (no tracking or stacking), ISO: 1600, F1.4, 10 sec

Camera: Sony A7III Full Spectrum using Visible + H-Alpha filter, Lens: Sony FE 24mm f1.4 GM