TL;DR
Prime made for students and young adults
- Fast, free delivery for dorm and study essentials
- Prime Video and Amazon Music included
- Member-only deals
NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day for Oct. 31, 2026, shows aurora and steam plumes at Hverir in northeastern Iceland. NASA attributes the aurora to energetic particles entering Earth’s upper atmosphere during geomagnetic storms and says activity remains high as the Sun begins to decline from its cycle peak.
NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) for October 31, 2026, shows green aurora above steam and gas rising from fumaroles at Hverir, a geothermal area in northeastern Iceland. The image pairs a Halloween-themed description with an explanation of how geomagnetic storms produce auroras, while NASA says auroral activity remains high as the Sun enters the declining phase of its activity cycle.
The scene was photographed at Hverir, amid Iceland’s volcanic landscape. NASA’s caption describes the towers of steam and gas as coming from local fumaroles, openings that release gases and vapor from geothermal ground. Against the night sky, the plumes appear beneath the greenish northern lights, giving the image its “spooky planet” framing.
NASA explains that solar activity can trigger geomagnetic storms, which energize particles trapped in Earth’s magnetic field. At high latitudes, particles enter the planet’s upper atmosphere and produce auroral displays. The caption says activity is currently in a high state, with the Sun only in the early stages of decline from the peak of its activity cycle.
The image credit goes to Stéphane Vetter of Nuits sacrées. APOD presents a different astronomical image or photograph each day, accompanied by an explanation written by a professional astronomer. NASA lists the service as supported by the Astrophysics Science Division at Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA Science Activation and Michigan Technological University.
A Halloween View of Solar Activity
The photograph connects a striking local landscape with a process driven by the Sun and Earth’s magnetic environment. It shows that an aurora is not simply a visual feature of the sky: NASA’s explanation ties the light to energetic particles reaching the upper atmosphere during geomagnetic storms. The geothermal plumes add a second visible feature, created by activity beneath the surface at the Icelandic site.
NASA’s note that auroral activity remains high gives the image a timely angle beyond its seasonal theme. It suggests that the conditions producing auroras are still active while the solar cycle moves away from its peak. The caption does not provide a forecast for particular locations, however, so it does not establish that observers elsewhere will see lights on Halloween night. Its closing remark that other apparitions may dance “in your neighborhood” is presented as a playful seasonal sign-off, not a specific viewing prediction.
Popular right now
TCL QM64L 85-Inch QD-Mini LED 4K Smart Fire TV
Vitamix Propel Series 750 Professional-Grade Blender, 4 Programs, Black
De'Longhi 15-Bar Pump Espresso Machine with Milk Frother & Temperature Control
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
How Hverir’s Lights Form
Hverir lies in northeastern Iceland, a region shaped by volcanic and geothermal activity. NASA identifies the steam and gas in the photograph as emissions from local fumaroles. These ground-level plumes are separate from the aurora: one is associated with geothermal vents, while the other occurs high in the atmosphere.
In the APOD explanation, the aurora follows a chain of events: solar activity triggers geomagnetic storms; energetic particles held within Earth’s magnetic field then penetrate the upper atmosphere at high latitudes; and their interaction there produces visible displays. The Oct. 31 entry applies that explanation to the photographed scene rather than reporting a new measurement or a newly announced solar event.
APOD’s daily format combines the image with a short explanatory caption. The Oct. 31 entry is credited to Vetter, with Jerry Bonnell, Cecilia Chirenti, Robert Nemiroff and Keighley Rockcliffe listed as authors and editors. NASA’s page also names the organizations supporting the service.
No Local Viewing Forecast Given
The APOD page does not give the image’s exact capture date or time, or details such as exposure settings. It also does not identify a particular geomagnetic storm or provide measurements supporting its description of auroral activity as high. NASA offers a general explanation and a status statement, not a location-by-location forecast.
It is therefore unclear from this entry whether auroras will be visible outside high latitudes, or when and where any further displays might occur. The caption’s Halloween reference to lights appearing in readers’ neighborhoods should not be treated as a confirmed prediction. The source does not report a new storm alert or promise that auroras will appear on a specific night.
The Next Daily Sky Image
NASA’s APOD page lists “Many Moons” as the subject of its next picture. The Oct. 31 entry itself gives no release time beyond the daily schedule and makes no further announcement about solar activity.
Readers seeking practical information about aurora visibility will need a current forecast for their location; the APOD caption does not supply one. The next entry is set to continue the service’s daily image-and-explanation format, while this Halloween installment remains a photograph-led explanation of auroras and Hverir’s geothermal plumes.
Key Questions
What does NASA’s Oct. 31, 2026 APOD show?
It shows northern lights above steam and gas plumes at Hverir, a geothermal area in northeastern Iceland. Stéphane Vetter is credited for the photograph.
What causes the aurora in the image?
NASA says solar activity can trigger geomagnetic storms. Energetic particles enter Earth’s upper atmosphere at high latitudes and produce auroral displays.
Are the steam plumes part of the aurora?
No. NASA identifies them as emissions from fumaroles at Hverir. They are a geothermal feature in the foreground, separate from the aurora in the sky.
Does NASA predict auroras will be visible in my neighborhood?
No specific forecast appears in the APOD entry. Its closing Halloween line is playful, and the page does not name locations or dates for possible aurora visibility.
What is the next APOD subject?
The page lists “Many Moons” as the subject of the next picture.
Source: science.nasa.gov
