On October 14, 2026, a photograph taken near Lansjärv, Sweden, shows Mars appearing close to the center of the Beehive Cluster (M44) in the sky, beneath a spectacular northern lights display. This aurora is the result of a solar eruption that occurred on October 10, 2026, which caused strong disturbances in Earth’s magnetic field.
Energetic particles from this eruption excited molecules in Earth’s atmosphere, which released this energy as colorful lights visible in the captured aurora.
The Beehive Cluster, also known as Praesepe, is a grouping of young stars whose rotation allows the study of stellar evolution over time. Mars, in this celestial configuration, appears positioned at the center of this cluster.
This scene also carries cultural significance, as the auroras, called guovssahasat in the Northern Sámi language, are traditionally respected by the indigenous Sámi peoples living in Sweden and Arctic regions.
