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Arts & Culture

Aurora - Fire In The Sky

Aurora australis. Examine legends about the origins and meaning of the aurora, the colorful glow that often brightens the night sky in Earth’s polar regions.
Courtesy of Stephen Voss; ©Terra Mater
Aurora australis. Examine legends about the origins and meaning of the aurora, the colorful glow that often brightens the night sky in Earth’s polar regions.

Airs Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2018 at 11 p.m. on KPBS TV

Examine legends about the origins and meaning of the aurora, the colorful glow in the night sky.

In Earth’s polar regions, the aurora — a ghostly flicker and colorful glow — mysteriously brightens the night sky. One of the most incredible natural phenomena in the world, the array of colors of the aurora is a source of endless theory and wonder.

What creates such beauty and spectacle?

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“Aurora - Fire In The Sky,” a one-hour documentary, links popular myths to the aurora’s physical effects on the natural world.

For some tribes, it is the spirit of ancestors playing ball in the sky; for others, it’s a harbinger of war, plague and famine.

Aurora australis. Examine legends about the origins and meaning of the aurora, the colorful glow that often brightens the night sky in Earth’s polar regions.
Courtesy of Stephen Voss; ©Terra Mater
Aurora australis. Examine legends about the origins and meaning of the aurora, the colorful glow that often brightens the night sky in Earth’s polar regions.

The film visits Finland’s Saami, Alaska’s Inuit, Canada’s Native Americans and New Zealand’s Maori, each with legends of their own.

The film travels the globe, incorporating scientific research and myth, to share with viewers the awe-inspiring mystery of the aurora.

Official Trailer

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"In Earth’s polar regions

Produced by Terra Mater Factual Studios. Written and directed by Ivo Filatsch. Executive producer is Sabine Holzer.