NASA Approves Two Heliophysics Missions to Explore Sun, Earth’s Aurora
NASA has approved two heliophysics missions to explore the Sun and the system that drives space weather near Earth. Together, NASA’s contribution to the Extreme…
Aurora
Rare & Magical Pulsating Aurora Lights: Killer Electrons in Strumming Sky Lights
Wisps of pulsating aurora lights are a rare, yet magical sight. Now, scientists suggest they could be associated with destruction of part of the ozone….
Aurora-Chasing Citizen Scientists Bring Us a Step Closer to Solving the STEVE Mystery
In 2018, a new aurora-like discovery struck the world. From 2015 to 2016, citizen scientists reported 30 instances of a purple ribbon in the sky,…
Aurora, Meet Airglow: Two of Earth’s Most Colorful Atmospheric Phenomena Meet in Stunning Photo From Space Station
Two of Earth’s most colorful upper atmospheric phenomena, aurora and airglow, met just before dawn in this photo shot by an astronaut on the International…
Mystery of Auroral Beads Uncovered With NASA’s THEMIS Spacecraft
A special type of aurora, draped east-west across the night sky like a glowing pearl necklace, is helping scientists better understand the science of auroras…
Amateur Photographers Have Discovered a New Form of the Northern Lights
Working together with space researchers, Finnish amateur photographers have discovered a new auroral form. Named ‘dunes’ by the hobbyists, the phenomenon is believed to be…
Astronauts View an Aurora From the International Space Station
Aboard the International Space Station, NASA astronaut Christina Koch snapped this image of an aurora, saying: “Years ago at the South Pole, I looked up…
STEVE – An Entirely New Celestial Phenomenon
Thin ribbons of purple and white light that sometimes appear in the night sky were dubbed a new type of aurora when brought to scientists’…
Astronaut Alexander Gerst Captures ‘Mind-Blowing’ Aurora Image
Ever wondered what auroras look like from space? Astronaut Alexander Gerst, also known as @Astro_Alex, gives us his bird’s-eye view from aboard the International Space Station, tweeting…
ISS Image Shows an Aurora Over the Southern Hemisphere
“Sunrise crashes an aurora party over the southern hemisphere,” said astronaut Ricky Arnold of the image he snapped from the International Space Station. Auroras are…
Astronomers Discover the Missing Link Responsible for Pulsating Auroras
Sometimes on a dark night near the poles, the sky pulses a diffuse glow of green, purple and red. Unlike the long, shimmering veils of…
Astronomers Directly Observe Electrons Bouncing Across Earth’s Magnetosphere
The shower of electrons bouncing across Earth’s magnetosphere – commonly known as the Northern Lights – has been directly observed for the first time by…
Astronomers View Jupiter’s Independently Pulsating X-ray Auroras
New X-ray observations show the auroras on Jupiter behave differently at each pole, making Jupiter puzzling and unlike Saturn (no known auroras) or Earth (where…
Jupiter’s Powerful Auroras Present a Challenging Mystery
NASA’s Juno Mission reveals massive amounts of energy swirling over Jupiter’s polar regions that contribute to the giant planet’s powerful auroras – only not in…
New ISS Image of the Pacific Northwest and an Aurora
This new image is from astronauts aboard the International Space Station shows an aurora and the Pacific Northwest. NASA astronaut Scott Kelly and ESA astronaut…
NASA Scientists Reveal the Role of Electrons in Pulsating Auroras
Using satellites, a ground-based array of all-sky cameras, and some spectacular aurora borealis, a team of scientists has uncovered evidence for an unexpected role that…
Astronaut Scott Kelly Views Aurora’s Colorful Veil Over Earth
NASA astronaut Scott Kelly shares his view of an aurora trailing a colorful veil over Earth. NASA astronaut Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) shared this photograph on…
Lights of an Aurora NASA Image of the Day
NASA Astronaut Scott Kelly captured this photo of an aurora from the International Space Station on June 23, 2015. The dancing lights of the aurora…