Well, this is in the far north of Norway, where Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) are very common in the winter. Particles from the missile (fuel, etc?) probably have a similar effect if it's at a high altitude.
It's a picture of the same thing at the same time, yes.
Even though the Russians deny launching a missile, here is what they announced on radio beforehand:
"ZCZC FA79
031230 UTC DEC 09
COASTAL WARNING ARKHANGELSK 94
SOUTHERN PART WHITE SEA
1.ROCKET LAUNCHING 2300 07 DEC TO 0600 08 DEC
09 DEC...
It was most likely a failed russian missile.
Online bookmaker Nordicbet.com gives you 2:1 for your money on it being a russian missile, and 100:1 on Santa Claus or a UFO... ;-)
You use it as collateral with some idiot who thinks it is really valuable, and proceed to take up as much debt on it as you possibly can. ;-)
The car is a metaphor for a certain empire, right? :-p