aurora

Latest about aurora

An astronaut aboard the International Space Station captured this stunning aurora over Earth in 2016.

Massive 'proton aurora' blasted a 250-mile-wide hole in Earth's ozone layer

By Brandon Specktor published

In June 2015, a little-known type of aurora cut a Grand-Canyon-size ozone hole in Earth's mesosphere. Scientists have finally assessed the damage.

Space
A white swirl of charged gases detach from Comet Leonard's tail in December 2021. This image took top prize in the 2022 Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition.

Blazing comet tail is whipped by solar winds in astonishing astronomy photo

By Stephanie Pappas published

A never-to-be-seen-again view of Comet Leonard took top prize at the Royal Observatory Greenwich's Astronomy Photographer of the Year contest.

Comets
solar flare glowing on sun in green filter

Powerful solar flare lashes Earth, causes radio blackout across Europe and Africa

By Elizabeth Howell published

Auroras have been swirling through the skies already this week as the sun awakens from slumber.

The Sun
A new James Webb Space Telescope view of Jupiter shows the planet's faint silver rings, glowing aurora and shimmery storms. Two moons are visible to the planet's left.

Jupiter glows in stunning new James Webb telescope images

By Stephanie Pappas published

Stunning new images of Jupiter from the James Webb telescope show the planet's auroras and hazy clouds.

Jupiter
skyglow steve

Eerie Sky Glow Called 'Steve' Isn't an Aurora, Is 'Completely Unknown' to Science

By Brandon Specktor last updated

There is a beautiful mystery in the sky, and its name is Steve.

Planet Earth
A 2017 STEVE event over New Zealand reveals the strange new feature that astronomers are calling "streaks."

STEVE is smearing green 'streaks' across the sky, and nobody knows why

By Brandon Specktor last updated

Astronomers report a strange new feature of the aurora-like STEVE, which they are calling 'streaks.'

Astronomy
So-called "aurora chasers" in Alberta, Canada, photographed an unusual light in the night sky — dubbed "Steve" — and brought it to the attention of astronomers at the University of Calgary and at NASA.

Inside Story Behind Mesmerizing Sky Glow Named 'Steve' Revealed in New Documentary

By Mindy Weisberger last updated

The story behind an oddball sky glow endearingly named "Steve" is revealed in a new documentary. Here's why the light show captivated aurora chasers.

Planet Earth
STEVE is visible as a pink band rising from the lower left to the upper right of the image, as seen with the Milky Way over Childs Lake in Manitoba, Canada.

Mysterious Skyglow 'STEVE' May Have Been Lurking in an Aurora on Labor Day

By Stephanie Pappas last updated

Scientists are analyzing data from the Labor Day auroral light show to find out if a phenomenon known as STEVE was part of the picture.

Astronomy
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Mystery of Weird Sky-Glow Named 'STEVE' Finally Solved

By Mindy Weisberger last updated

Enigmatic STEVE is somewhat like an aurora...and somewhat different.

Particle Physics
A fish-eye-lens photo of STEVE, the mysterious purple river of light, hanging in the sky over Canada

'STEVE' descends on North America after surprise solar storm

By Brandon Specktor last updated

A surprise solar storm bashed Earth on Aug. 7 and 8, triggering an appearance of the mysterious glowing phenomenon called STEVE.

The Sun
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