Auroras over Kirkjufell, Iceland Aug 26, 2026

As darker nights return to Iceland, visitors will soon look to the skies for a chance to see the aurora borealis. Better known as the northern lights, this luminous phenomenon occurs when particles from the sun interact with gases high in Earth"s atmosphere, creating shimmering ribbons of green, pink, purple and sometimes red light. Iceland"s northern location and increasingly dark autumn and winter nights make it one of the world"s premier destinations for aurora viewing.

© Cavan Images/Alamy

palette

Today in History

Aug 26, 2023Berlin Cathedral and Museum Island, Berlin, Germany
Aug 26, 2024Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge
Aug 26, 2025Trullo buildings in Alberobello, Apulia, Italy

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Feb 3, 2025Ribblehead Viaduct, North Yorkshire, England
Sep 24, 2024Skaftafell, Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland
Jul 5, 2024Daintree Rainforest and Noah Beach, Queensland, Australia
Dec 29, 2025Étretat, Normandy, France
Apr 4, 2024Lechwe herd, Botswana
Apr 25, 2026Galápagos penguins swimming, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
Apr 12, 2026International Space Station
May 5, 2026Field of blue agave near Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico
Jul 31, 2024Hoodoos, Sunset Point, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA
Sep 19, 2024Milky Way over the Elbow River, Alberta, Canada
Aug 19, 2024Bufadero de la Garita, Gran Canaria, Spain
Jul 30, 2025Ribadesella, Asturias, Spain
Jun 3, 2024Bicycles in Copenhagen, Denmark
May 6, 2026Thunderstorm above the plains, Bulgaria
Apr 22, 2025Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States
Jun 1, 2025Barrier reef off Grande Terre, New Caledonia, France
Dec 19, 2023Cachoeira da Fumacinha, Bahia, Brazil
Nov 16, 2023Athens and the Acropolis, Greece
Aug 29, 2024Castellfollit de la Roca, Catalonia, Spain
Jan 15, 2026The fishing village of Reine, Norway
Jun 24, 2025Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, Utah, United States
May 26, 2024Methow Valley, North Cascades, Washington, USA
Feb 19, 2024Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, Spain
June 27, 2026Boneyard Beach, Hunting Island, South Carolina, United States
Jul 19, 2024A young jaguar, Pantanal, Brazil
Jul 25, 2024Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee, USA
Jul 27, 2024Vineyards above the Moselle River, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
Jan 7, 2026Turret Arch the in Arches National Park, Utah, United States
Oct 12, 2023Palouse region, Idaho, USA
Aug 20, 2023Start Point Lighthouse, South Devon, England