Aurorae, spectacular phenomena in the polar night sky, also provide a convenient projection of effects of complex and energetic plasma processes of the outer magnetosphere. Much has been learned about the ionosphere and magnetosphere from night-time auroral images. However, similar imaging is extraordinarily difficult by day, due to the overwhelming background of atmospherically-scattered sunlight. This is unfortunate, since many auroral plasma processes may be unique to the sunlit ionosphere. A visible-light image of the aurora at &lgr;630-nm wavelength was obtained from Kiruna, Sweden, at sunset on May 2, 1999, by an imaging spectrometer featuring excellent spectral resolution and out-of-band rejection. We believe this to be the first such image obtained from the ground under near-daytime conditions. These observations were obtained as a test of principle during the development of a prototype instrument. We believe this technique holds great promise for future ground-based studies of the daylit ionosphere and magnetosphere. ¿ 2000 American Geophysical Union