The aurora borealis, or northern lights, illuminates the night sky Monday, Nov. 5, 2001, near Ellis, Kan., during a spectacular show not commonly seen in Kansas. The auroras are the most visible effect of the sun's activity on the earth's atmosphere. The aurora displays are associated with an interaction between the solar wind, a continuous flow of electrically charged particles from the sun, and the earth's magnetic field. (AP Photo/Hays Daily News, Steven Hausler)