Spacecraft detect auroral power source
Posted: Fri, Jul 25, 2008, 7:24 AM ET (1124 GMT)
A fleet of NASA spacecraft have helped scientists identify the mechanism that powers the auroral displays known as the northern and southern lights. Scientists used data from the five THEMIS spacecraft to link the aurorae to magnetic reconnection events, when the Earth's magnetic field snaps to a new shape, releasing charged particles. The reconnection events are linked to substorms in the magnetic field, which accompany powerful solar events. These substorms take place about a third of the way to the Moon.
A fleet of NASA spacecraft have helped scientists identify the mechanism that powers the auroral displays known as the northern and southern lights. Scientists used data from the five THEMIS spacecraft to link the aurorae to magnetic reconnection events, when the Earth's magnetic field snaps to a new shape, releasing charged particles. The reconnection events are linked to substorms in the magnetic field, which accompany powerful solar events. These substorms take place about a third of the way to the Moon.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Starship explodes during preparations for static-fire test
Posted: Sun, Jun 22 6:52 AM ET (1052 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, July 1
Move over Starlink, here comes Kuiper
Gulf News — 4:58 am ET (0858 GMT) USSF Seeks Industry Ideas For Space-Based Interceptors
Aviation Week — 4:57 am ET (0857 GMT) Don’t forget about Iran’s space program
POLITICO — 4:54 am ET (0854 GMT) EU Space Act is ‘orbital equivalent of GDPR’, says lawyer
Luxembourg Times — 4:53 am ET (0853 GMT) Poland’s second ever astronaut is safe in space
Euro Weekly News — 4:49 am ET (0849 GMT) |
