Mars and Beehive under Auroral Curtain

During Saturday's (10th October, 2026) G3 geomagnetic storm, one detail was somewhat overlooked: the planet Mars was at its closest angular proximity to the center of the M44 Beehive (or Praesepe) open star cluster. While this "meeting" event itself was visible from many parts of the world only in the early morning hours, there were regions where it could be observed for a significant portion of the night—specifically north of the Arctic Circle, where this beautiful celestial clustering appeared very low on the horizon due to the high ecliptic latitude. I was fortunate to be in a location with a clear view near Lansjärv, Sweden, where this lovely celestial encounter unfolded directly beneath the "curtain" of an exceptionally bright aurora. Its brilliance was so intense that it beautifully illuminated the landscape on an otherwise moonless night. A truly rare sight!

Canon Ra, Tamron 70-200mm/200mm

Saturation, Contrast, Color Correction