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Distinct from the more typical phenomenon of the aurora borealis and aurora australis, found near the poles, a separate optical phenomenon in the sky known as STEVE can occasionally be seen. For years, scientists were puzzled as to what caused it, but that mystery has now been solved.

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Ryan Sault.

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It isn’t often that skywatchers discover a new naked-eye phenomenon in astronomy, but it happened just a few years ago.

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Aurorae frequently come in a variety of colors: greens, reds, and even blues, all related to the atomic transitions that ions, atoms, and molecules found in our atmosphere undergo. But STEVE is a unique phenomenon, and possesses colors and color combinations that no aurora has.

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NASA Goddard Photo and Video.

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Aurora-watching observers in Alberta, Canada, routinely saw a unique purple/green light ribbon in the sky.

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Appearing as a purple/green or mauve-colored streak of light, STEVE was originally thought to be a new type of aurora. However, aurorae are always characterized by charged particles precipitating down onto the Earth, and the beautiful ribbon shown here was later shown to not have any such particles associated with it.

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Wikimedia Commons user Elfiehall.

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Formally discovered in late 2016, the new visual spectacle was named STEVE: strong thermal emission velocity enhancement.

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This photograph was taken in Alberta, Canada, and shows a STEVE event that is visible even in the presence of light pollution. Although STEVE was only recorded for the first time in 2008 and was only formally discovered in 2016, it is now known to be a natural phenomenon that has probably been occurring for billions of years.

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Chris Ratzlaff / NASA GSFC.

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Normally, aurorae are produced by the Sun’s charged particles striking the atoms in Earth’s upper atmosphere.

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When charged particles are sent towards Earth from the Sun, they are bent by Earth’s magnetic field. However, rather than being diverted away, some of those particles are funneled down along Earth’s poles, where they can collide with the atmosphere and create aurorae. STEVE events can occur alongside aurorae, but have independent and distinct properties and origins.

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NASA Goddard’s Conceptual Image Lab/Krystofer Kim.

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The solar wind particles get bent by Earth’s magnetic field, exciting and ionizing oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen.

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A multicolored aurora, shown with the Milky Way over New Zealand, is possible as incoming charged particles strike different layers and elements present in the atmosphere.

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Ben (seabirdnz) of flickr.

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When electrons recombine with ions, they cascade back down to lower energies, creating aurorae from their emission lines.

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The Aurora Australis, as seen from the ISS, is one of the planet’s two major aurorae. The yellow and green phenomena to the right are the airglow of the sodium layer and the atmospheric oxygen above it, respectively. Although both optical phenomena can be seen from Earth, neither one is the same as STEVE.

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ESA/NASA.

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STEVE is distinct from this for multiple reasons.

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The northern lights (aurora borealis) from the Arctic Circle on March 14,2016 The rare purple color can sometimes be created in aurorae near the poles, as a combination of blue and red emission lines from atoms can create this uncommon sight along with the more typical green. STEVE, again, is distinct from this, too.

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1. STEVE is a thin ribbon that appears at lower latitudes than aurorae.

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The Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights illuminate the night sky on November 12, 2015 near the town of Kirkenes in northern Norway. Note the irregular patterns, distinct from the ribbon-like nature of STEVE.

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Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP/Getty Images.

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2. STEVE contains unique colors that aren’t created by aurorae.

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This is a false-color image of ultraviolet Aurora Australis captured by NASA’s IMAGE satellite and overlaid onto NASA’s satellite-based Blue Marble image. The Earth is shown in false color; the aurora image, however, is absolutely real. Solar activity causes these aurorae, but only produces a limited palette of colors.

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NASA.

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3. Most importantly, aurorae are defined by charged particles falling onto our atmosphere; STEVE doesn’t have them.

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Instead, STEVE is produced when charged particles collide much higher up, in Earth’s ionosphere.

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This particular STEVE event was taken by a citizen scientist, where the green ‘picket fence’ phenomenon can be seen alongside this purplish/mauve optical glow. The glow is not caused by ions, but rather by particles colliding and heating up, creating visible-light emissions similar to a filament in an incandescent bulb.

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Y. Nishimura et al. (2019), doi: 10.1029/2019GL082460.

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These collisions cause tremendous heating and the emission of light, similar to incandescent bulb filaments.

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This particular sighting of STEVE, the purplish ribbon, was accompanied by the greenish ‘picket fence’ phenomenon shown here. Regardless of the source of the charged particles that create it, the greenish feature is classified as a true aurora from the fact that it was, indeed, created from free electrons colliding with atmospheric particles.

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Krista Trinder / NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

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STEVE is often accompanied by a true aurora: a green ‘picket fence,’ originating from electron precipitation.

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Mostly Mute Monday tells an astronomical story in images, visuals, and no more than 200 words. Talk less; smile more..

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(************************** )Unique from the more common phenomenon of the aurora borealis and aurora australis, discovered near the poles, a different optical phenomenon in the sky called STEVE can periodically be seen.

For many years, researchers were puzzled regarding what triggered it, however that secret has actually now been resolved.

Ryan Sault(***********************
).

It isn’t typically that skywatchers find a brand-new naked-eye phenomenon in astronomy, however it occurred simply a couple of years earlier.

Aurorae often are available in a range of colors: greens, reds, and even blues, all associated to the atomic shifts that ions, atoms, and particles discovered in our environment go through. However STEVE is a distinct phenomenon, and has colors and color mixes that no aurora has.

NASA Goddard Image and Video

Aurora-watching observers in Alberta, Canada, regularly saw a distinct purple/green light ribbon in the sky.

Looking like a purple/green or mauve-colored streak of light, STEVE was initially believed to be a brand-new kind of aurora. Nevertheless, aurorae are constantly identified by charged particles speeding up down onto the Earth, and the stunning ribbon revealed here was later on revealed to not have any such particles related to it.

Wikimedia Commons user Elfiehall

Officially found in late 2016, the brand-new visual phenomenon was called STEVE: strong thermal emission speed improvement.

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This picture was taken in Alberta, Canada, and reveals a STEVE occasion that shows up even in the existence of light contamination. Although STEVE was just taped for the very first time in2008 and was just officially found in(*********************************************************************************************** ), it is now understood to be a natural phenomenon that has actually most likely been happening for billions of years.

Chris Ratzlaff/ NASA GSFC

Usually, aurorae are produced by the Sun’s charged particles striking the atoms in Earth’s upper environment

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When charged particles are sent out towards Earth from the Sun, they are bent by Earth’s electromagnetic field. Nevertheless, instead of being diverted away, a few of those particles are funneled down along Earth’s poles, where they can hit the environment and develop aurorae. STEVE occasions can take place along with aurorae, however have independent and unique homes and origins.

(**************************** )NASA Goddard’s Conceptual Image Lab/Krystofer Kim

The solar wind particles get bent by Earth’s electromagnetic field, interesting and ionizing oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen.

(************************* ).

A various colored aurora, revealed with the Galaxy over New Zealand, is possible as inbound charged particles strike various layers and components present in the environment.

Ben (seabirdnz) of flickr

When electrons recombine with ions, they waterfall pull back to lower energies, producing aurorae from their emission lines.

(************************
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(************************** )The Aurora Australis, as seen from the ISS, is among the world’s 2 significant aurorae. The yellow and green phenomena to the right are the airglow of the salt layer and the climatic oxygen above it, respectively. Although both optical phenomena can be seen from Earth, neither one is the exact same as STEVE.

ESA/NASA

STEVE stands out from this for several factors.

(************************** )The northern lights (aurora borealis) from the Polar Circle on March14,2016 The unusual purple color can often be developed in aurorae near the poles, as a mix of blue and red emission lines from atoms can develop this unusual sight in addition to the more common green. STEVE, once again, stands out from this, too.

OLIVIER MORIN/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

1. STEVE is a thin ribbon that appears at lower latitudes than aurorae.

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The Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights light up the night sky on November 12, 2015 near the town of Kirkenes in northern Norway. Keep in mind the irregular patterns, unique from the ribbon-like nature of STEVE.

Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP/Getty Images

2. STEVE includes distinct colors that aren’t developed by aurorae.

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This is a false-color picture of ultraviolet Aurora Australis recorded by NASA’s IMAGE satellite and overlaid onto NASA’s satellite-based Blue Marble image. The Earth is displayed in incorrect color; the aurora image, nevertheless, is definitely genuine. Solar activity triggers these aurorae, however just produces a minimal scheme of colors.

NASA