A satellite named Smile, a joint mission by the European Space Agency and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has captured stunning images of an auroral substorm over the North Pole. Launched in May, Smile orbits Earth to study solar and geomagnetic storms. The images reveal a hurricane-like swirl of ultraviolet light caused by solar wind interacting with Earth’s magnetic field, creating beautiful Northern Lights. These observations, taken on July 24, highlight the full extent of the auroras in UV light, which is best viewed without interference from sunlight. Smile’s x-ray camera also captured remnants of an exploded star, marking the first detailed x-ray observations of Earth’s magnetic field. This mission aims to enhance our understanding of space weather and its effects on Earth.
QUESTION: How might studying auroras and space weather help us better prepare for future technological challenges on Earth?
Satellite images reveal ethereal auroral storm raging above the North Pole
