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Footage of Whales Swimming Under the Northern Lights Is Simply Majestic

1 minute read
By Olivia B. Waxman

Photographer Harald Albrigtsen has been getting glowing reviews about his new video for Norwegian public television (NRK) showing humpback whales swimming beneath the northern lights, off the coast of the island Kvaløya near the city Tromsø. One could joke that Albrigtsen’s clip is certainly more riveting than the TV station’s past programming featuring salmon swimming upstream or a 134-hour ferry ride.

Also known as aurora borealis, this natural phenomenon is created by “collisions between fast-moving electrons and the oxygen and nitrogen in Earth’s upper atmosphere,” according to NASA. “As they ‘calm down’ and return to their normal state, they emit photons, small bursts of energy in the form of light.” And regarding how the lights get their colors: “Oxygen emits either a greenish-yellow light (the most familiar color of the aurora) or a red light; nitrogen generally gives off a blue light. The blending of these colors can also produce purples, pinks, and white.”

See the 9 Most Breathtaking Photos of the Northern Lights

The Northern Lights are seen over Usk Reservoir at the Brecon Beacons, Wales, on March 17, 2015.
The Northern Lights are seen over Usk Reservoir at the Brecon Beacons, Wales, on March 17, 2015.Polly Thomas—Rex USA
The Northern Lights near Salgotarjan, Hungary, on March 18, 2015.
The Northern Lights near Salgotarjan, Hungary, on March 18, 2015.Peter Komka—EPA
The Northern Lights over Grimersta Lodge on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis on March 18, 2015.
The Northern Lights over Grimersta Lodge on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis on March 18, 2015.Sandie Maciver—Demotix/Corbis
The Northern Lights above the Staffordshire moorlands in England on March 17, 2015.
The Northern Lights above the Staffordshire moorlands in England on March 17, 2015.Michael Scott—Demotix/Corbis
The Northern Lights over Shawbost on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland's Outer Hebrides on March 18, 2015.
The Northern Lights over Shawbost on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland's Outer Hebrides in the early hours of March 18, 2015. Sandie Maciver—Demotix/Corbis
The Northern Lights (Aurora borealis) are seen on the sky above Pilisszentkereszt, Hungary, on March 18, 2015.
The Northern Lights (Aurora borealis) are seen on the sky above Pilisszentkereszt, Hungary, on March 18, 2015. Balazs Mohai—EPA
The Northern Lights over the Callanish Stones, Grimersta and Shawbost on Lewis and Harris hills on March 17, 2015.
The Northern Lights over the Callanish Stones, Grimersta and Shawbost on Lewis and Harris hills on March 17, 2015.Sandie Maciver—Demotix/Corbis
The Northern Lights over the Callanish Stones, Grimersta and Shawbost on Lewis and Harris hills on March 17, 2015.
The Northern Lights over the Callanish Stones, Grimersta and Shawbost on Lewis and Harris hills on March 17, 2015.Sandie Maciver—Demotix/Corbis
The Northern Lights over a country road near Lietzen in Maerkisch-Oderland, Germany, on March 17, 2015.
The Northern Lights over a country road near Lietzen in Maerkisch-Oderland, Germany, on March 17, 2015.Patrick Pleul—EPA

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Write to Olivia B. Waxman at olivia.waxman@time.com