Green and purple bands of the aurora ripple and dance across the night sky, weaving in front of the faint, star-strewn band of the Milky Way and creating a luminous bridge between our planet and the cosmos beyond. These glowing curtains are the visible result of charged particles from the Sun colliding with Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere, a reminder of the invisible connections between our world and the broader solar system. The shifting lights trace the contours of magnetic field lines, while distant stars in the Milky Way shine steadily, highlighting the vastness of space and the small yet remarkable place Earth occupies within it. Observing this interplay of aurora and celestial backdrop reveals both the dynamic energy of our own planet and the enduring, silent presence of the universe, offering a humbling and awe-inspiring glimpse into the connections between Earth, the Sun, and the infinite reaches of the galaxy. Photographer: Sean Neilson