The aurora borealis, or northern lights, provides a colorful backdrop to Monument Rocks in Gove County in west-central Kansas. The northern lights were visible Wednesday night across much of the United States in the aftermath of the fourth-largest solar flare on record. As the solar activity continues in the next few days, the northern lights may continue to glow. In this time-exposure shot, photographer Kyle Gerstner used an external flash to light the Monument Rocks while his camera's shutter was open to expose for the aurora borealis and night stars.