Aurora Borealis

In 1619, Galileo coined the term aurora borealis to give a name to the dancing lights in the northern skies. Derived from Aurora, the Roman goddess of the dawn, and Boreas, the Greek word for "northern wind." Humankind's fascination with the northern lights can possibly be traced back to Cro-Magnon paintings in caves, dated 30,000 B.C. Long before science had an explanation for the phenomenon, cultures around the world developed explanations or stories to help understanding. As a photographer, I have joined a long line of humans fascinated, even obsessed, with these dancing lights. This gallery reflects images principally captured in Alaska, with some appearances from Canada, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.