aurora
Latest about aurora

Barrage of solar explosions could bring auroras to the U.S. this weekend as Perseid meteor shower peaks
By Ben Turner published
Three powerful solar eruptions could bring auroras as far south as New York and Idaho right at the peak of the Perseid meteor shower this weekend.

Gaia spacecraft almost doomed by back-to-back meteor strike and solar storm — but ESA says they've found a solution
By Stephanie Pappas published
The European Space Agency's Gaia spacecraft is back to routine operations studying the Milky Way after a meteor strike punctured its protective shield, allowing charged solar particles to stream through.

Rare 'polar rain' aurora seen from Earth for the first time
By Keith Cooper published
Seen for the first time from the ground, the polar rain aurora produced an eerie green glow captured on camera in Norway.

Dragon-shaped aurora and 'scream of a dying star' revealed as 2024 Astronomy Photographer of the Year finalists
By Elise Poore published
The Astronomy Photographer of the Year contest has revealed the jaw-dropping finalists of its 2024 competition.

Rare, mystery blasts from sun can devastate the ozone layer and spike radiation levels on Earth
By Alan Cooper, Pavle Arsenovic published
The vibrant auroras from earlier this year have a darker side that scientists are still uncovering.

STEVE — the bizarre purple ribbon in the sky — has a 'secret twin' that appears only before dawn, study finds
By Stephanie Pappas published
An atmospheric phenomenon known as STEVE has a secret twin that appears before the break of dawn and flows in the opposite direction, new research finds.

Sun launches strongest solar flare of current cycle in monster X8.7-class eruption
By Brandon Specktor published
The strongest solar flare in half a decade just launched off the sun from the same sunspot group that triggered dazzling auroras last weekend. But don't expect northern lights this time around.

James Webb telescope to zoom in on Uranus and Saturn in study of mysterious auroras
By Robert Lea published
Two projects using the James Webb Space Telescope will look at the auroras of Uranus and Saturn to discover what processes make them tick.
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