Articles tagged with Auroras
Researchers from the University of Helsinki, led by Professor Minna Palmroth, have discovered a new auroral form called 'dunes' through citizen science collaboration. The phenomenon is believed to be caused by waves of oxygen atoms glowing due to solar particles, and provides a novel way to investigate upper atmospheric conditions.
A new study using MAVEN data reveals that the proton aurora on Mars occurs more than 14% of dayside observations, increasing to over 80% during southern summer. This correlation suggests that changes in solar activity and Martian atmospheric conditions lead to increased water loss.
Researchers will launch two three-year sounding rockets to investigate energy transfer and dissipation during colorful active auroras. The VortEx project aims to measure turbulent processes in the mesosphere, enhancing weather prediction accuracy.
Scientists have confirmed that STEVE, a celestial phenomenon, has distinct differences from aurora. Its pinkish mauve color and 'picket fence' emissions set it apart. Researchers are now focused on understanding what causes STEVE and its potential impact on our infrastructure.
Structured diffuse auroras track Van Allen belts' shape and size changes, enveloping satellites in unexpected radiation. The discovery helps track the edges of the belts, crucial for mitigating effects on space exploration.
Researchers measured Jupiter's electric current system and found that alternating currents play a crucial role in generating the aurora. The study used data from NASA's Juno spacecraft to derive electric currents and found a total of approximately 50 million amperes, significantly lower than expected values.
Researchers found that auroral crackling sounds are generated by magnetic storms and Schumann resonances, which activate sound waves in the atmosphere. The study used data from 25 sound events measured in Southern Finland during active Northern Lights displays.
Researchers from the University of Warwick developed a 'social network' of over 100 ground-based magnetometers to monitor geomagnetic substorms. This allows for more accurate models and helps understand space weather's impact on electrical systems.
Researchers have confirmed the accuracy of older depictions of fan-shaped auroras using centuries-old drawings and modern spectral image data. The team also gained insight into how these rare phenomena appear in the sky and to the human eye. Next, they plan to simulate the effects of space weather on outer atmospheres during fan-shaped...
Researchers found STEVE's source region in space and identified two mechanisms that cause it, with the reddish arc caused by heating of charged particles higher up in the atmosphere. The picket fence is powered by energetic electrons streaming from space thousands of kilometers above Earth, creating a unique aurora-like phenomenon.
Researchers at the University of New Hampshire found that high-altitude auroras, known as Poleward Moving Auroral Forms (PMAF), cause drag on satellites by producing moving pockets of air. These 'speed bumps' were previously thought to be a simple phenomenon, but are now understood to be more complex and structured.
Japanese scientists confirm the role of radiation belt electrons in ionizing the deep atmosphere during auroral breakups. The research provides new insights into the phenomenon, revealing a higher energy level than previously assumed.
The CAPER-2 mission aims to understand how particles are accelerated in the aurora borealis by studying the interaction between electrons and atmospheric gases. The team hopes to uncover the fundamental physics behind this process, which is crucial for understanding space radiation and astrophysical phenomena.
Researchers found STEVE to be an entirely new optical phenomenon produced by a different atmospheric process than the aurora. The study used satellite data and ground-based cameras to analyze a STEVE event in March 2008.
Scientists analyzed newly resurrected data from Galileo's first flyby of Ganymede, revealing a stormy scene with particles blasted off the moon's icy surface due to incoming plasma rain. The results may hold key insights into why Ganymede's auroras are so bright.
Scientists solved the mystery of purple lights in the sky using data from citizen scientists, satellites and researchers. The discovery provides insight into Earth's magnetic field and its interaction with charged particles in space.
The AZURE mission aims to measure vertical winds in the ionosphere, creating a tumultuous particle soup that redistributes energy and momentum. By tracking colorful tracers released into space, researchers will gain valuable data on the flow of particles in key regions of the ionosphere.
Researchers have made the first direct observation of electron scattering in auroras, revealing a previously unknown mechanism behind the colorful displays. The discovery was made using a specialized sensor on the ERG satellite and confirms that chorus waves are capable of exciting electrons to create pulsating auroras.
Research using ESA's XMM-Newton and NASA's Chandra X-ray observatories found that Jupiter's south pole X-ray emissions pulse every 11 minutes, while north pole emissions are erratic. This behavior is distinct from Earth's auroras, which mirror each other in activity.
University of Leicester astronomers' predictions of Jupiter's planetary phenomena have been confirmed by the Juno mission. The spacecraft has revealed an even more extreme environment than predicted, with intense radiation belts and powerful aurorae.
Researchers from UCL and NASA used the Chandra X-Ray Observatory to study Jupiter's X-ray aurora triggered by solar storms. The findings reveal a high-energy X-ray aurora eight times brighter than Earth's, providing insights into Jupiter's magnetic field and its interaction with the solar wind.
Aurorasaurus uses citizen science observations to improve short-term predictions of aurora displays and study geomagnetic storms. The project tracks auroras worldwide, providing valuable data for scientists.
NASA will launch two sounding rockets, CAPER and RENU 2, over Norway this winter to study the cusp aurora and particles moving near the North Pole. The rockets will investigate electromagnetic waves accelerating electrons into Earth's atmosphere and the relationship between electron inflow and electric currents.
The MAVEN mission has revealed enhanced escape rates of ions during solar bursts, hinting at substantial atmospheric loss in early Martian history. The study also found a large vertical temperature gradient and mixing of gases near the thermosphere and ionosphere.
Researchers used satellite and ground-based measurements to study pulsating auroras, finding that low-energy secondary electrons play a crucial role in their structure and shape. The discovery suggests that these electrons may be more important than previously thought in creating the glowing lights of auroras.
Astronomers have discovered a powerful aurora on a brown dwarf, 10,000 times more powerful than any seen before. The discovery reveals a major difference in magnetic activity between low-mass stars and planets.
Researchers discovered that brown dwarf stars, which are difficult to detect and classify, host powerful auroras similar to Earth's display. The study used radio and optical telescopes to observe a brown dwarf 20 light years away, providing evidence that these stars act like supersized planets.
The MAVEN mission has discovered that Mars' atmosphere is losing gas to space due to solar wind and electric forces, creating a polar plume of escaping particles. The spacecraft also detected a long-lived layer of metal ions in the upper atmosphere, and witnessed aurora displays caused by solar activity.
New observations show that Jupiter's auroral glow sometimes flares up due to a process unrelated to the Sun. The giant planet's polar auroras are powered by a separate interaction between Jupiter and its moon Io, causing intense electric fields at Jupiter's poles.
Researchers have solved the mystery of the theta aurora by studying data from the European Space Agency's Cluster and NASA's IMAGE satellites. The study found that the plasma trapping mechanism is responsible for the phenomenon, which occurs when the interplanetary magnetic field points northwards.
A NASA-funded sounding rocket will launch into the aurora borealis to gather data on its formation and behavior. The mission, GREECE, aims to understand the sun-Earth connection and how energy particles interact with Earth's magnetosphere.
Research suggests that awe-inspiring sights can motivate people to seek explanations for the world, potentially leading to a stronger belief in the supernatural. Participants who watched awe-inspiring videos showed increased comfort with supernatural control and were more likely to believe in God.
Scientists have developed a new method to measure the height of Northern Lights using digital SLR cameras, with results published in Annales Geophysicae. The technique uses parallax to calculate the distance to the aurora and has been successfully tested in Alaska.
The VISIONS mission aims to study the auroral wind by launching a sounding rocket into the Northern Lights. The rocket will observe oxygen atoms flowing out of the atmosphere and provide insights into how they gain energy to escape Earth's gravity.
Researchers have discovered radio emissions from ultracool dwarfs that are powered by processes similar to Jupiter's auroras, indicating the presence of auroras outside our solar system.
A new hyperspectral camera has captured the first-ever images of auroras, revealing a previously unknown atmospheric phenomenon. The camera's unprecedented capabilities have enabled scientists to study auroras in unprecedented clarity, revealing subtle changes in atmospheric behavior.
The Suomi NPP satellite observed a geomagnetic storm on October 8, 2012, resulting in beautiful displays of northern lights across Canada. The satellite's 'day-night band' sensor detected visible light emissions from energetic particles raining down from Earth's magnetosphere.
Research finds that experiencing awe can alter an individual's subjective experience of time by slowing it down. Awe also influences decisions, makes life feel more satisfying, and increases willingness to volunteer time to help others.
Scientists located auroral sounds near ground level, about 70 meters above the surface. The research reveals that energetic particles from the sun create sound closer to the ground than previously thought.
Researchers from SRI International and the University of Michigan have taken the first-ever measurement of naturally occurring auroral turbulence recorded using a nanosatellite radar receiver. The RAX CubeSat measured turbulence over Fairbanks, Alaska in response to a geomagnetic storm triggered by the largest solar flare in five years.
Researchers from UNH's Space Science Center launched a NASA rocket into the Aurora to measure electric and magnetic fields in Earth's upper atmosphere. The mission aims to shed light on the physical processes that create the northern lights and understand how energy from the sun accelerates aurora production.
Two Cluster satellites encounter a natural particle accelerator above the northern hemisphere, mapping its electrical landscape. This discovery sheds light on the generation of auroras and provides new insights into space plasma.
Researchers launched a rocket into aurora above Norway to measure the complex physics behind 'satellite drag'. The data will provide essential information for advancing understanding of neutral upwelling and its association with visible aurora phenomena.
Researchers from UCLA and British Antarctic Survey have found the link between electrons trapped in space and the diffuse aurora. The discovery of VLF waves as the primary cause will help scientists understand 'space weather' and its effects on the Earth's atmosphere.
New research from UCLA and the British Antarctic Survey reveals that chorus waves are responsible for scattering trapped electrons into the Earth's atmosphere. The findings have significant implications for understanding space weather and its effects on satellites, power grids, and aviation industries.
Researchers from Boston University's Center for Space Physics observed recent auroral displays in high latitudes accompanied by fainter glows in lower latitudes. The team detected signs of a new cycle of solar-terrestrial activity, including Stable Auroral Red (SAR) arcs in the southern hemisphere.
A team of researchers has discovered that Saturn's aurora pulses in tandem with its radio emissions, providing a long-suspected link between the two phenomena. The discovery offers new insights into Saturn's irregular heartbeat and has significant implications for understanding the planet's rotation period.
A network of cameras deployed around the Arctic captured vast curtains of aurora borealis colliding, producing explosive outbursts of light. Researchers believe these collisions reveal a common sequence of events connected to events in Earth's plasma tail.
A team from the University of Iowa launched two NASA rockets that flew through an auroral curtain, collecting data on the structural subtleties of the aurora. The ACES mission will provide insight into current models of aurora structure and help refine them.
Scientists have identified the mechanism that triggers substorms in space, which wreaks havoc on satellites and power grids, according to UCLA professor Vassilis Angelopoulos. The THEMIS mission provided evidence that magnetic reconnection is the trigger for these spectacular brightening events.
Researchers have found unexpected luminous spots on Jupiter's atmosphere caused by the moon Io's volcanic eruptions. The discovery challenges previous models of the Io footprint and reveals a new interpretation where beams of electrons travel from one hemisphere to another.
The Cluster constellation provides new insights into 'space tsunamis' disrupting aurora displays. Substorms, three-dimensional physical phenomena, affect GPS signals and are studied using data from multiple satellites.
A team of Canadian scientists will gather detailed information about the northern lights using a network of Ground-Based Observatories and NASA satellites. The THEMIS mission aims to pinpoint the cause of brilliant explosions in the auroral displays.
Scientists use Chandra to observe the Northern Lights dancing in X-ray light, revealing changing bright arcs of energy above the Earth's surface. The team detects low-energy X-rays generated during auroral activity, expanding our understanding of solar storms and their impact on the planet.
Researchers discovered hundreds of auroras on Mars over six years, linked to strong magnetic field patches in the crust. These events produce ultraviolet light and are not as colorful as Earth's auroras.
The Cassini-Huygens mission has captured the first-ever images of Saturn's auroral emissions at its poles, similar to Earth's Northern Lights. The UVIS instrument on the spacecraft shows rapid responses to changes in the solar wind and significant changes in emissions within the 'oval' of the aurora at Saturn's south pole.
Scientists have discovered eerie-sounding radio emissions from Saturn's auroras using Cassini spacecraft data. The study provides high-resolution measurements allowing audio recordings of the radio waves, offering clues about the source of the emissions.
Scientists found that auroral ovals in the northern and southern hemispheres do not form mirror images, contrary to previous thought. The study suggests that the tilt of the Earth's magnetic field towards the Sun and conditions in the solar wind play a crucial role in shaping the auroras.
Researchers at the University of Iowa have discovered a link between Saturn's radio emissions and its bright auroras. The findings indicate that strong radio emissions from Saturn's aurora are similar to those on Earth, suggesting a connection between the two.
Researchers have captured images of coronal mass ejections, revealing high-altitude auroras extending over 500 miles above Earth's surface. The Solar Mass Ejection Imager has improved predictions of geomagnetic storms by mapping electron cloud trajectories.