Aurora is a geomagnetic and atmospheric optical phenomenon arising from the interaction of charged particles, primarily electrons and protons from the solar wind and magnetospheric plasma, with atoms and molecules in a planet’s upper atmosphere. Guided by magnetic field lines into high-latitude auroral ovals, these particles precipitate and undergo collisional excitation and ionization of atmospheric species such as oxygen and nitrogen. Subsequent radiative de-excitation produces characteristic emissions, notably green and red lines of atomic oxygen and molecular nitrogen bands, forming dynamic structures including arcs, curtains, and patches whose morphology and intensity are modulated by magnetospheric dynamics and space weather conditions.
Ice crystals in Earth's atmosphere sometimes align just right to create various striking visual effects, from a halo around the moon, to bright spots called sundogs on either side of the sun in a winter sky, or a rainbowed ...
Planetary Sciences
Jul 30, 2025
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Just last month, a powerful solar storm lit up skies across the northern hemisphere, producing vivid auroras visible as far south as parts of the northern United States.
Planetary Sciences
Jul 2, 2025
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An unexpectedly strong solar storm rocked our planet on April 23, 2023, sparking auroras as far south as southern Texas in the U.S. and taking the world by surprise.
Planetary Sciences
Jul 1, 2025
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Northern lights may be visible in parts of the U.S. Monday night following weekend solar storms.
Planetary Sciences
Jun 2, 2025
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If you feel like you've seen more of the northern lights painting the night sky lately, you'd be right—and there's an explanation for the uptick.
Astronomy
May 28, 2025
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On March 15, 2024, near the peak of the current solar cycle, the sun produced a solar flare and an accompanying coronal mass ejection (CME), a massive explosion of gas and magnetic energy that carries with it large amounts ...
Planetary Sciences
May 14, 2025
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The NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope has captured new details of the auroras on our solar system's largest planet. The dancing lights observed on Jupiter are hundreds of times brighter than those seen on Earth. With ...
Astronomy
May 12, 2025
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In every scientific discovery in the movies, a scientist observes something unexpected, scratches the side of his or her forehead and says "hmmmmm." In just such a moment in real life, scientists from Canada observed unexpected ...
A strong solar storm headed to Earth could produce colorful aurora displays across more U.S. states than usual Tuesday night.
Planetary Sciences
Apr 15, 2025
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An international team of astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have made new measurements of Uranus' interior rotation rate with a novel technique, achieving a level of accuracy 1,000 times greater than previous ...
Astronomy
Apr 7, 2025
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