A layer of nickel of cosmic origin, which exists between 80 and 110 km high in Earth’s atmosphere, has been modeled for the first time, including dynamics and complex neutral and ion chemistry.
aurorae
Posted inEditors' Highlights
Power Outage When the Aurora Throws a Curve Ball
Omega-band aurora carries fast propagating electric currents in the azimuthal direction, producing geomagnetically induced currents that can cause power outage on the ground beneath.
Posted inEditors' Highlights
Skywatchers Spy Rippling Waves in the Northern Lights
Not to be outdone by the discovery of STEVE sub-auroral emissions last year, citizen scientists across Scandinavia reveal dune-shaped optical features, a new atmospheric phenomenon.
Posted inNews
Ancient Assyrian Aurorae Help Astronomers Understand Solar Activity
Records of aurorae in Mesopotamia from 2,600 years ago are helping astronomers understand and predict solar activity today.
Posted inEditors' Highlights
Using a Machine to Help Us Learn About Jupiter’s Aurora
A first usage of principal component analysis on Hubble images of Jupiter’s auroral ovals reveals the most common patterns, and machine learning classification reveals their physical causes.
Posted inNews
Computers Tease Out Secrets of Jupiter’s Aurorae
Aurorae once classified by human eyes are now being sorted by machines. The change may help astronomers understand how the mysterious features are powered.
Posted inEditors' Highlights
First Inside Look at Hot and Cold Ions in Jupiter’s Ionosphere
The first in-situ ion observations from NASA’s Juno spacecraft reveal the surprising, simultaneous presence of cold protons and hot oxygen and sulfur ions in the high-latitude ionosphere of Jupiter.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Data Mining Reveals the Dynamics of Auroral Substorms
An analysis of 5 decades of satellite data has pieced together the most comprehensive picture yet of substorms, the magnetic disturbances that cause surges of aurora.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Jupiter’s Northern Lights on Display in Otherworldly Movie
The first movie of Jupiter’s infrared aurora gives scientists a new look at the Jovian magnetic field.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Bringing Clarity to What Drives Auroras
A new classification scheme helps researchers distinguish what accelerates the electrons that create auroras.