This unusual false-color historic image shows how the Earth glows in ultraviolet (UV) light.
The Far UV Camera/Spectrograph deployed and left on the Moon by the crew of Apollo 16 captured this image.
The image is historic because it was taken from the surface of the Moon by humanity’s first lunar observatory. Another is operating now.
The part of the Earth facing the Sun reflects much UV light and bands of UV emission are also apparent on the side facing away from the Sun. These bands are the result of aurora caused by charged particles given off by the Sun. They spiral towards the Earth along Earth’s magnetic field lines.
source APOD
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