Summary
NASA selected a night photograph from Iceland, featuring green northern lights above towering columns of steam, as its Astronomy Picture of the Day for October 31, 2026.
Titled Night on a Spooky Planet, the photograph by French astrophotographer Stéphane Vetter portrays a landscape that looks more like a science-fiction scene than a real place on Earth.
An eerie night at Hverir, Iceland
The image was captured at Hverir, a geothermally active area in northeastern Iceland known for its hot springs, steam vents and volcanic ground.
A large plume of steam rises through the center of the frame toward the dark sky, while smaller columns appear at different points along the horizon. Behind them, the green northern lights stretch across the landscape, giving the scene an almost extraterrestrial atmosphere.
What makes this composition unusual is the presence of two very different natural phenomena: geothermal activity arising from within Earth, and aurora created high in the atmosphere when energetic particles interact with atmospheric gases.
Why the sky glows green
The northern lights are linked to solar activity. Charged particles and disturbances in Earth’s magnetic environment can produce luminous displays at high latitudes.
The characteristic green light comes mainly from oxygen in the upper atmosphere, which emits light when excited. The columns rising from the ground, by contrast, are steam and gases escaping from geothermal fumaroles.
In this photograph, the contrast between the dark volcanic terrain, luminous curtains of aurora and partly translucent steam columns creates an unusual sense of depth.
A photograph from 2013 returns to NASA
Although NASA selected the image on October 31, 2026, it was not taken this year. Stéphane Vetter captured it on the night of September 12, 2013, and it was already featured as Astronomy Picture of the Day on October 31 of that year. The same image also appeared in APOD in 2017 and 2022.
Its return for Halloween 2026 shows how effectively a real natural landscape can create an almost cinematic atmosphere when photographed with the right composition.
Vetter has appeared in Astronomy Picture of the Day several times. In September 2026, NASA also selected an astrophotographic mosaic he created with Yann Sainty, showing the remnants of five supernovas in one image after nearly 200 hours of observations.
What we think
The power of this photograph goes beyond the northern lights. Much of it comes from Vetter’s choice of viewpoint and his use of steam as a defining compositional element. The large central plume immediately draws the eye, while the smaller ones build layers of depth across the frame.
For those of us photographing landscapes and night skies, it is a strong reminder of the importance of the foreground. An extraordinary event overhead can produce beautiful pictures on its own, but paired with a distinctive landscape it becomes an image with character and a story.
Vetter did not need to invent an alien environment. He found the right elements on Earth and brought them together in one frame. The result still works just as well thirteen years later.
Frequently asked questions
When was the photograph taken?
On September 12, 2013. NASA featured it again as Astronomy Picture of the Day on October 31, 2026.
Is Hverir a real location?
Yes. Hverir is a geothermal area in northeastern Iceland.
Do we know which camera was used?
NASA’s 2026 publication does not specify a camera model, lens or exposure settings.
