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About the Images: This is the current ultraviolet image of the Earth's auroral oval taken by the Ultraviolet Imager (called UVI) on the POLAR spacecraft. It is updated every 7 minutes while the POLAR spacecraft is in contact with ground stations on Earth. Bright features in the images are glowing regions of molecular nitrogen and atomic oxygen atoms at about 100-150 kilometers (60-90 miles) altitude. High energy collisions between these atoms and precipitating electrons in the aurora cause this glow. The oval is the imprint of a magnetic storm raging in the magnetosphere. The brighter and more active the emissions, the more severe the space weather disturbance. | |
Image Credit: Images were acquired with the Ultraviolet Imager on the POLAR spacecraft. The Principal Investigator is Dr. George Parks at the University of Washington. Picture of the Day is produced and maintained by Dr. Jim Spann at Marshall Space Flight Center | |
Movie of the auroral light show during the January 10-11, 1997 magnetic storm. View from the Ultraviolet Imager on the Polar spacecraft courtesy of G. Parks at University of Washington, J. Spann at Marshall Space Flight Center and NASA
Take me to the UVI/Polar Web Site
The source of this material is Windows to the Universe, at http://www.windows.ucar.edu/ at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). © The Regents of the University of Michigan. All Rights Reserved. Site policies and disclaimer