Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is
featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
2006 March 29

Green and Black Aurora Over Norway

Credit & Copyright: Frank Andreassen
(nettfoto.no)
Explanation: What causes gaps between
aurora curtains? These unusual gaps can
make auroral displays appear more
detailed and intricate. Research using data
from four Cluster spacecraft orbiting the
Earth has likely found the secret: auroral
gaps, sometimes knows as black auroras,
are actually anti-auroras. In normal
auroras, electrons and/or predominantly
negatively charged particles fall toward
Earth along surfaces of constant magnetic
field. They ionize the Earth's atmosphere
on impact, causing the bright glows. In
auroral gaps, however, negatively charged
particles may be sucked out from the
Earth's ionosphere along adjoining
magnetic field lines. These dark anti-
auroras can climb to over 20,000
kilometers and last for several minutes.
Pictured above, a series of well-defined
auroral gaps is seen dividing green aurora
curtains high above Harstad, Norway,
earlier this month.
News: Solar Eclipse Today
Tomorrow's picture: orbiting Mars

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