Earth's Magnetosphere: On the Ropes Dec 15, 2007
Auroras glow and dance ... Scientists have understood the basics of auroras namely, that electrons rain down onto the upper atmosphere and cause the gases way up there to fluoresce for decades. (SkyAndTelescope.com)
Magnetic ropes power 40,000kmh aurora storm Dec 13, 2007
We believe that solar wind particles flow in along these ropes, providing energy for geomagnetic storms and auroras, says David Sibeck, project scientist for the mission at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center. THEMIS also spotted explosions where the solar wind first feels our planets magnetic field, an area known as the bow shock. (Nature News Service)
Northern Lights Race Across the Sky Dec 12, 2007
On March 23, an auroral substorm erupted over Alaska and Canada and produced spectacular auroras for more than two hours, caught on camera by NASA's THEMIS satellite ... "The auroras surged westward twice as fast as anyone thought possible, crossing 15 degrees of longitude in less than one minute," said mission scientist Vassilis Angelopoulos ... "We believe that solar wind particles flow in along these ropes, providing energy for geomagnetic storms and auroras.". (Space.com)
Northern Lights Controlled by Magnetic "Ropes" Dec 12, 2007
"What it shows is promise," said Vassilis Angelopoulos, researcher at the University of California at Los Angeles and principal investigator for a new NASA mission to study auroras ... The latest discoveries began on March 23, when a "substorm" erupted over Alaska and Canada, producing vivid auroras for more than two hours ... "The auroras surged westward twice as fast as anyone thought possible, crossing 15 degrees of longitude in less than one minute," Angelopoulos said. (National Geographic)
First Findings On Key Astrophysics Problem Dec 4, 2007
The mystery involves electron acceleration during magnetic explosions that occur, for example, in solar flares and "substorms" in the Earth's magnetosphere - the comet-shaped protective sheath that surrounds the planet and where brilliant auroras occur ... 28, 2005) Scientists studying data from NASA's Cassini spacecraft and Hubble Space Telescope have found that Saturn's auroras behave differently than scientists have believed for the last 25. (Science Daily)
UNH scientists report first findings on key astrophysics problem Nov 29, 2007
The mystery involves electron acceleration during magnetic explosions that occur, for example, in solar flares and "substorms" in the Earth's magnetosphere - the comet-shaped protective sheath that surrounds the planet and where brilliant auroras occur. During solar flares, accelerated electrons take away up to 50 percent of the total released flare energy. (EurekAlert!)
Aurora Stamps Have Appeal Oct 19, 2007
On October 1, 2007, the USPS issued 80 million stamps bearing photos of auroras from the Northern and Southern Hemisphere. Click on the image to see the entire 20-stamp sheet. (SkyAndTelescope.com)
Volcanic moons gassy mystery solved Oct 16, 2007
New Horizons used its Alice ultraviolet spectrograph to capture images of Io's auroras on to Pluto, which mission scientists expect to reach in 2015. The latest findings from Retherford and his colleagues, based on the Alice data, are detailed in a recent issue of the journal Science. (MSNBC -- Technology)
Jupiter goes wild even when its mild Oct 10, 2007
Come to the dark sideAnother study led by Randy Gladstone, an astrophysicist at the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, focused on nightside observations of Jupiter to investigate its bright auroras and eerie "airglow.". Like auroras arctic regions, auroras above Jupiter's north pole are caused by magnetic fields slamming charged particles from the sun into the planet's atmosphere. (MSNBC -- Technology)
Cluster And Double Star Uncover More On Bright Aurorae Sep 13, 2007
Auroral brightening is a sudden change of the aurora from light grey to very bright and colourful auroras at an altitude of about 100 km, visible from ground. Current disruption occurs at a height of roughly 60 000 km on the nightside or at a sixth of the distance to the Moon and is associated with turbulent fluctuations in the magnetic field. (Science Daily)
Saturn's mysteries keep scientists guessing Aug 28, 2007
On Earth, super-hot particles from the solar wind collide with the planet's magnetic field exciting atoms in the atmosphere that shed light and thus create auroras. However, atmospheric physicist Alan Aylward at University College London along with physicist Chris Smith and their colleagues found auroras could actually cool the upper atmospheres of gas giants, by forcing air closer to the equator down to lower, colder depths. (USA Today -- Tech)
It's the sun, stupid - not humans or their fires Aug 8, 2007
This solar wind, which extends past Pluto and constantly changes speed, density, direction and magnetic power, can produce auroras like our Northern Lights and knock out electric power grids on Earth's surface. But the sun can't be causing global warming. (DeKalb Daily Chronicle, IL)
The Sun, Stupid Aug 7, 2007
This solar wind, which extends past Pluto and constantly changes speed, density, direction and magnetic power, can produce auroras like our Northern Lights and knock out electric power grids on Earths surface ... This solar wind, which extends past Pluto and constantly changes speed, density, direction and magnetic power, can produce auroras like our Northern Lights and knock out electric power grids on Earths surface. (Townhall.com)
Clouds That Rival Auroras Now Bigger and Brighter Jul 13, 2007
Noctilucent clouds are made of ice particles 20 to 100 nanometers in size that float in the mesosphere well above normal clouds (the highest of which are seven miles up) as well as the ozone layer (at nine to 22 miles), but below the auroras (60 miles and higher). Although the air there is 100,000 times dryer than the Sahara's desert winds, extremely low temperatures around 225 degrees Fahrenheit ( 143 degrees Celsius) crystallize what little moisture there is on tiny dust particles that act as... (Scientific American)
A heavenly half century Jul 13, 2007
It is a cavity filled with particles, which sometimes leak down to form spectacular auroras over our poles, but which also shield us from the eroding wind of particles escaping our sun at high velocity. Without such a shield, our frail atmosphere would be at high risk of blowing away into the solar wind - much like what may have happened to Mars. (International Herald Tribune)
Dust devils tear across Mars, why not on Earth? Jul 11, 2007
The Red Planet hosts clouds of ice and carbon dioxide, tornado-like dust devils, auroras and even complex jet streams all of this, despite an atmosphere less than 1 percent as dense as Earth's. advertisement. (MSNBC -- Technology)
> read more Jun 6, 2007
This artist's impression shows a brown dwarf (with intense auroras at its poles) passing in front of a Sun-like star. NASA / ESA / G. Bacon (STScI) Astronomers are unsure how to classify a newly discovered object known as XO-3b. (SkyAndTelescope.com)
Full Story » May 31, 2007
The other three rocket projects selected by NASA were the following: UV observations of magnetic fields in stellar nvelopes by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, multicamera investigations of sub-storms auroras by Dartmouth College, and the testing of a new photo-electron focusing system by the University of California, Los Angeles. When asked about why the rocket is called a ounding rocket, he said it relates to an old naval term for measuring depths underwater, with the actual term being... (Boulder Colorado Daily, CO)
Solar Storm Cycle Will Likely Start Next March, According To NOAA Apr 29, 2007
These same storms illuminate night skies with brilliant sheets of red and green known as auroras, or the northern or southern lights. Although the effects of solar storms are often seen from Earth as beautiful lights dancing in the night sky (i. (Science Daily)
Images from space Apr 29, 2007
Solar flares, amazing auroras, double moons and otherspace images from September 2005. Relive Discovery's mission, tour Mars and Saturn, and see other highlights from August 2005. (MSNBC -- Technology)
Sun 3-D pictures help warn of solar flares Apr 24, 2007
When they hit the Earth's magnetic barrier they cause the auroras, the dramatic Northern and Southern lights. But they can also disrupt satellites, radio communication, and power grids. (Scientific American)
International Space Station Status Report: Ss07-21 Apr 21, 2007
The crew members videotaped their Earth photography activities and their observations of sea ice and auroras. These images will be used later in NASA education videos sent to classrooms around the world. (PR Newswire)
Cluster Sees Tsunamis In Space Apr 17, 2007
For example, in the late stage of substorm development, auroral disturbances move towards the poles, suggesting that the energy source for auroras and substorms moves away from Earth. Previous satellite observations have found that, during this late stage, the flows of plasma (a gas of charged particles populating Earth s magnetosphere) in the magnetotail exhibit a reversal in direction. (Science Daily)
Photo in the News: Jupiter Auroras "Northern Lights on Steroids" Mar 31, 2007
Those dashing purple puffs are x-ray images of the gas giant's high-voltage auroras "northern lights on steroids," said planetary scientist Randy Gladstone of this image released yesterday by NASA. ... "Jupiter has auroras bigger than our entire planet," said Gladstone, of the independent, nonprofit Southwest Research Institute in Texas, in a statement ... For starter, what causes these "hyper-auroras". (National Geographic)
Images show Jupiter's powerful sky lights Mar 30, 2007
In this image, x-ray auroras observed by the Chandra X-ray Observatory are overlaid on a simultaneous optical image from the Hubble Space Telescope ... In a NASA statement today, Gladstone called the purple rings in a "Northern Lights on steroids. They're hundreds of times more energetic than auroras on Earth." ... Unlike Earth's auroras, Jupiter's hyper-auroras never stop. (MSNBC -- Technology)
Cassini Images Bizarre Hexagon On Saturn Mar 28, 2007
The hexagon images and movie, including the north polar auroras are available at: and and. The Cassini-Huygens mission is a cooperative project of NASA, the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency. (Science Daily)
Images show sun's dynamic, turbulent nature Mar 24, 2007
They hope the observations can help explain and perhaps predict space weather -- the ejections from the sun that can disable satellites, knock out electricity grids on Earth and cause the spectacular auroras in extreme northern and southern skies. "Hinode images are revealing irrefutable evidence for the presence of turbulence-driven processes that are bringing magnetic fields, on all scales, to the sun's surface, resulting in an extremely dynamic chromosphere or gaseous envelope around the... (CNN -- Science)
Mission to Sun shows turbulent magnetic field Mar 23, 2007
They hope the observations can help explain and perhaps predict space weather the ejections from the Sun that can disable satellites, knock out electricity grids on Earth and cause the spectacular auroras in extreme northern and southern skies. Loading. (India Times, India -- Health/Science)
Rocket Launches To Examine Alaskan Auroras Mar 18, 2007
It may have been 40 degrees below zero at the Poker Flat Research Range in Alaska, but aurora and weather came together one recent winter night in a perfect match for Clemson University researchers and students who launched four rockets to study heat in the upper atmosphere. The chemical trail from the horizontal rocket. (Science Daily)
Discovering Exactly Where The Northern Lights Originate Mar 16, 2007
THEMIS consists of five spacecraft, studying the conditions in Earth's magnetosphere that spark disturbances in the auroras. (Credit: Berkeley Lab: U.S. Department of Energy). (Science Daily)
The Planetary Adventure Continues: Mars Express And Venus Express Operations Extended Mar 11, 2007
Results achieved by Mars Express so far include the evidence of volcanic, fluvial and glacial activity on Mars from very early in its history until very recently possibly still going on today; the first ever sub-surface radar sounding of another planet, that led to the discovery of underground water-ice and of buried impact basins; the first comprehensive study of the mineralogical composition of the planets surface, which provided the first mineralogical evidence for the past history of water... (Science Daily)
Twin spacecraft track solar storms Mar 2, 2007
These are the storms that cause colorful auroras, but they can also cause electrical disturbances to satellites, and if they hit the surface of the planet they can overload electrical grids. The airlines are quite interested in these solar storms because they are flying polar routes, Kaiser added. (MSNBC -- Technology)
US Spacecraft Takes New Look at Jupiter on Way to Pluto Mar 1, 2007
" Jupiter flyby trajectoryThe observations have included Jupiter's auroras and its giant red spot, a swirling centuries-old storm larger than Earth. New Horizons' advanced instruments have also peered at the planet's rings in an effort to find more tiny moons. In addition, it studied the surface composition of the big moons Gannymede; Callisto; Io, which has a volcano; and Europa, which is thought to have a liquid water ocean under a shell of ice. The spacecraft will also become the first to... (Voice of America)
NASA probe to make Jupiter flyby Feb 28, 2007
New Horizons observations of Jupiters magnetic field will help researchers determine which processes such as solar wind or planetary rotation spawn auroras and other phenomena. The results will be compared tandem studies by the and other space and ground-based observatories, McComas said. (MSNBC -- Technology)
New Horizons greets Jupiter Feb 27, 2007
New Horizons' observations of Jupiter's magnetic field will help researchers determine which processes such as solar wind or planetary rotation spawn auroras and other phenomena. The results will be compared tandem studies by the Hubble Space Telescope and other space and ground-based observatories, McComas said. (USA Today -- Tech)
Five spacecraft launched to probe explosive space storms Feb 20, 2007
Aiming to uncover the physics that power the auroras that crown Earth's poles, five tiny probes have been launched into space for a synchronized orbital dance to locate where the trigger is pulled to create the eerily magnificent displays. The Delta 2 rocket lifts off at 6:01 p.m. EST (2301 GMT). (Spaceflight Now)
Nasa aurora probe launch delayed Feb 19, 2007
A US space agency (Nasa) mission to study auroras - the Northern Lights - has been delayed for 24 hours due to high winds ... Auroras have their origin in the vast clouds of charged particles that billow away from the Sun ... Simultaneously, 20 ground stations in Alaska and Canada with automated, all-sky cameras and magnetometers will document the auroras and space currents from Earth. (BBC News)
NASA Mission to Seek Polar Lights' Energy Source Feb 18, 2007
VOA News - NASA Mission to Seek Polar Lights' Energy Source. A trusted source of newsand information since 1942. (Voice of America)
Success: NASAs five THEMIS satellites launch into space Feb 18, 2007
The Delta II rocket raced into space on the flaming power of three rocket stages and nine solid rocket motors, after which the THEMIS satellites soon after dispersed around Earth to monitor auroras like the Northern Lights. NASA reports that they are undertaking the mission to investigate what causes auroras in the Earth's atmosphere to change in appearance and dissipate ... Discovering why the light of auroras can fluctuate and fade will provide scientists with important details on how the... (iTWire)
Themis mission -- so many satellites, just 1 rocket Feb 16, 2007
NASA rocket with 5 satellites set to launch Friday Probes will study geomagnetic substorms in the Earth's atmosphere Auroras damage communications satellites, disable power grids Themis mission named after the Greek goddess of order and justice Adjust font size. CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (AP) -- Five NASA satellites stacked like a wedding cake are set to launch on a single rocket Friday, part of a mission to figure out the source of powerful geomagnetic substorms in the Earth's atmosphere. (CNN -- Science)
Friday lift-off for aurora probe Feb 16, 2007
The Themis mission comprises five identical probes to blast into orbit to examine the colourful eruptions of auroras near the North Pole ... Auroras are caused when charged particles in the Earth's magnetic field accelerate into the upper atmosphere and collide with gas atoms, releasing energy as light ... Simultaneously, 20 ground stations in Alaska and Canada with automated, all-sky cameras and magnetometers will document the auroras and space currents from Earth. (BBC News -- Science)
U of C researchers shoot for the stars Feb 15, 2007
Using 20 digital optical cameras spread out from eastern Canada to western Alaska, scientists will monitor the satellites in an attempt to unlock the causes behind the magnetic sub-storms that produce auroras. Mike Greffen, a member the U of Cs Institute of Space Research, set up the 16 cameras positioned across Canada. (Canoe.ca)
Daily Debriefing Feb 13, 2007
The Dartmouth Online. Tuesday, February 13, 2007. (The Dartmouth Online, NH)
Cluster: New Insights Into The Electric Circuits Of Polar Lights Feb 13, 2007
Giant electrical circuits power the magical open-air light show of the auroras, forming arcs in high-latitude regions like Scandinavia ... Auroras form in high latitude regions of Earth, and appear in many different shapes ... The deep mechanisms that rule the creation of the beautiful auroras, or polar lights, have been the subject of studies that are keeping solar and plasma scientists busy since years. (Science Daily)
Research rocket launches from Poker Flat, through pulsating aurora Feb 13, 2007
This morning, a NASA suborbital sounding rocket launched from Poker Flat Research Range into an aurora display over northern Alaska at 3:45 a.m. Alaska Standard Time, allowing researchers to gather more data about the power source behind pulsating auroras ... Scientists think pulsating auroras get their power from the Van Allen belts, radiation belts far from Earth ... Lessard's team also used the rocket to measure electrical current flow related to pulsating auroras and to produce visual images... (EurekAlert!)
6 aurora-research rockets to launch from Poker Flat Feb 10, 2007
Marc Lessard, a research associate professor at the University of New Hampshire, will use a 65-foot-tall Black Brant XII rocket in a mission called ROPA to gather more information about the power source behind pulsating auroras, which blink on and off in large round patches. John Craven, a professor of physics at the Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, is the lead scientist on a four-rocket mission called HEX 2 in which he and his colleagues will learn more about... (EurekAlert!)
Hubble telescope loses its most popular camera Jan 31, 2007
The camera might yet be operated in what the engineers called "solar blind mode," at ultraviolet wavelengths to observe phenomena like auroras on Jupiter. The electrical problems did not apparently spread to the rest of the telescope. (International Herald Tribune -- Health)
Hubble's main camera badly crippled Jan 30, 2007
Hubble engineers hope they will be able to reactivate the ACS' third channel the solar blind channel used recently to study auroras on Jupiter and Saturn by February to aid , which is due to make a on Feb. 28. As soon as were confident that everyone has done their homework on that, we could very have the solar blind operating by the end of February, Burch said. (MSNBC -- Technology)
Hot New Mystery Surrounds Saturn Jan 26, 2007
Scientists figured that heat generated by the auroras was blown toward the equator by some unknown process. But a new calculation reported in today's issue of the journal Nature finds that this mechanism, if at work on , would actually cool the upper atmosphere at the lower latitudes (closer to the equator). (Yahoo News -- Astronomy and Space)
Twin Spacecraft Swing Past Moon, Preparing For 3-D Solar Studies Jan 25, 2007
When they collide with Earth at speeds approaching one million mph, CMEs can produce spectacular auroras and trigger severe magnetic storms. The energetic particles associated with these storms can cause electrical power outages, disrupt and/or damage communications satellites, and are often hazardous to astronauts. (Science Daily)
NASA Primes Five Satellites for Stormy Hunt Jan 20, 2007
IMAGES: Colorful Auroras. SPACE.com Cams: Real-time Views of the Sun, Earth and Auroras. (Space.com)
Peering Into The Poles' Majestic Light Shows: Probes To Solve Mystery Of Auroral Substorms Jan 19, 2007
(April 12, 2005) -- Scientists looking at the Earth's northern and southern auroras were surprised to find they are not mirror images of each other, as was once thought. The main cause behind the differences appears to. (Science Daily)
Aurora-Investigating Probes Set to Launch Jan 19, 2007
A quintet of space probes will be launched next month to solve a decades-long mystery about auroras in Earth's atmosphere, NASA officials announced yesterday. The probes will search for the origin of magnetic storms that cause auroras in the planet's Northern Hemisphere to change from slowly shimmering curtains of light into dancing streaks of briliant color ... Charged particles emanating from the sun are the ultimate source of auroras. (National Geographic)
Pluto probe gets a boost from Jupiter Jan 19, 2007
The probe will not only study Jupiters turbulent atmosphere, but scan its auroras, rings, moons and for the first time ever the planets trailing magnetic field ... New Horizons will also provide a fresh look at Jupiters four largest moons volcanic , , and as well as study the planets auroras and hunt for new satellites within its faint rings, researchers said. (MSNBC -- Technology)
Team hopes to solve mystery of northern lights Jan 13, 2007
The northern lights dance over the Knik River near Palmer, Alaska. (AP / Bob Martinson). (CTV.ca)
University of Alberta space research to solve aurora mystery Jan 11, 2007
Auroras are powered by solar wind - a stream of charged particles expelled by the sun. This wind blows past the earth at about 400-700 km per second and generates storms in the earth's magnetic environment. (EurekAlert!)
Meteors and Curtains of Light, Oh My! Dec 22, 2006
But transient phenomena like comets, meteors, and auroras are famous for defying expectations. So the past three nights have been very satisfying as two great spectacles the Geminid meteor shower and a fine display of northern lights showed up right on schedule and performed precisely as predicted. (SkyAndTelescope.com)
Researchers Identify Driver For Near-Earth Space Weather Dec 22, 2006
(February 28, 2005) -- Scientists studying data from NASA's Cassini spacecraft and Hubble Space Telescope have found that Saturn's auroras behave differently than scientists have believed for the last 25 ... (April 12, 2005) -- Scientists looking at the Earth's northern and southern auroras were surprised to find they are not mirror images of each other, as was once thought. (Science Daily)
Space Station Glitch Possibly Caused by Solar Flare Dec 22, 2006
Secondary Navigation. Staff Writer Fri Dec 15, 12:30 PM ET. (Yahoo News -- International Space Station)
A Day in the Life of a Space Walker Nov 1, 2006
" Orbiting hundreds of kilometers above Earth, the space shuttle sometimes glides right through spectacular auroras. Astronauts on board Space Shuttle Discovery captured this image in 1991. If you turn a bolt, for example, you must remember there is no water to hold you in place, and that you can push yourself off pretty fast if you don't pay attention. "You learn," he says, "to bring yourself to a stop, and then make yourself motionless, without any momentum remaining. Then, you can do whatever... (FirstScience.com)
Astrophotography Sep 30, 2006
Auroras appear just inches in front of your nose ... "Lately we've been having some extraordinary auroras," he reports ... Auroras are caused by electrons and protons from space raining down on Earth's atmosphere. (FirstScience.com)
Space Weather Gear Readied For The Final Frontier Sep 30, 2006
(November 4, 1998) -- A new imaging spectrometer developed at the University of Illinois will assist scientists who are studying auroras and their effects upon Earth's atmosphere ... (November 17, 1998) -- A new imaging spectrometer developed at the University of Illinois will assist scientists who are studying auroras and their effects upon Earth's atmosphere. (Science Daily)
Todays HOME Spun Wisdom Sep 29, 2006
Explosions on the Sun send particles into space, creating luminous displays called auroras that can be seen from Earth. According to. (RisMedia.com)
ASTRONAUTS GET TIME OFF TO EXPLORE SPACE STATION Sep 17, 2006
Musgrave said that on every one of his flights he would take a black book with 120 things he hoped to do to on his own, including looking for auroras, rainbows and the Great Wall of China. And that's just looking downward at Earth. (Tyler Morning Telegraph, TX)
Astronauts Enjoy Some Downtime Sep 16, 2006
They included looking for auroras, rainbows and the great wall of China. "If you give me some time off, I get to do them," he said. (CBS News)
