Apr11
The Aurora Named Steve
For the first time, scientists have ground and satellite views of STEVE (short for Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement), a thin purple ribbon of light. Scientists have now learned, despite its ordinary name, that STEVE may be an extraordinary puzzle piece in painting a better picture of how Earth's magnetic fields function and interact with charged particles in space.
A new kind of Aurora Borealis was first observed by amateur Aurora observers. Citizen scientists, armed with carmeras, captured photographs and video of a purple aurora happening at much lower latitude than the ordinary northern lights.