The photo of the Aurora Australis was taken by Dr. Karen Gariboldi, from the Biostratigraphy Group of the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Pisa, on board the R/V Laura Bassi at the end of the 41st PNRA Expedition.
During the northbound voyage from the Sabrina Coast, Antarctica, to Christchurch, New Zealand, the days begin to grow shorter and night returns. Under clear sky conditions, such as on the night between February 23 and 24, it is not difficult to observe the Aurora Australis—a phenomenon caused by the interaction between the solar wind and Earth’s magnetic field, which excites atmospheric particles and produces colorful lights dancing across the sky.
The image was captured using a Samsung Galaxy A56 5G in night mode, combining multiple consecutive exposures (23 mm wide-angle lens, ISO 1250, f/1.8, 1/2 s), conditions that also made it possible to capture the constellation of Orion (top left).
The photo was taken from the port side (left side of the ship); in the foreground, part of a lifeboat and part of the davit used for launching it can be seen.
© Karen Gariboldi – 2026. All rights reserved. Commercial use and modifications are prohibited without permission.
