Mysterious arc lights over Canada

A strong geomagnetic storm was brewing over the Alberta (Canada) September 27, when photographer Alan Dyer looked up at the sky and saw, as through the sky stretches a purple light arc. It was the mysterious Northern lights, known as "Steve".

""Steve" appeared only 20 minutes, starting at 10:45 pm MDT, during a lull in the main lights," said Dyer, who captured the arc in the format 360 degrees.

For many years observers in the Northern sky reported that this glowing form sometimes occurs among ordinary auroras. It is often called the "proton arc", while the researchers said that protons do not have this phenomenon nothing. Therefore, the members of the Alberta Aurora Chasers group gave an unusual radiance, a new name: "Steve".

"We seem to be perfectly located in the Canadian Prairies, to witness "Steve" because often see his arc during the Northern lights directly overhead or to the South," notes Dyer.

The physics underlying the purple tape, unclear until the end. One of the satellites of the mission, ESA Swarmпролетел right through "Steve" during his previous appearance. The data showed relatively hot river of gas, a width of about 25 km, quickly flowing through the outer atmosphere of the Earth. ""Steve" seems to be thermal emission from hot gas, and not from the flying electrons, says Dyer, But its origin and nature is still shrouded in mystery".

Translated by «Yandex.Translator»