Aurora

The first scientific explanation of the aurora phenomenon was published by Norwegian physicist Kristian Birkeland. He proposed that the aurora was produced by charged particles from the sun that were directed towards the poles by the Earth's magnetic field. This theory was eventually proved correct and formed the basis for our modern understanding of auroral phenomena.

The International Geophysical Year (IGY) was an international scientific project that lasted from 1 July 1957, to 31 December 1958. One of the main focuses of the IGY was the study of auroras and geomagnetic phenomena. This global collaboration significantly advanced our understanding of auroras, incorporating data from both the northern and southern hemispheres.

The Environmental Science Services Administration (ESSA) launched one of the first weather satellites specifically designed to study the auroras from space. ESSA-3 was part of a series of satellites that provided valuable data on auroral activity, contributing to the comprehensive study of Earth’s upper atmosphere during the 1960s and 1970s.

Auroral Kilometric Radiation (AKR) was discovered when spacecraft measurements detected low-frequency radio waves generated by the aurora. This discovery expanded the scientific understanding of how auroras could emit radio waves at specific frequencies and illuminated new areas of research in auroral and space physics.

The Swedish Viking satellite was launched to study plasma processes in the Earth's magnetosphere, with a particular emphasis on auroral activity. The satellite provided data that allowed researchers to explore the microphysics of the auroral acceleration region in unprecedented detail, yielding insights into space weather phenomena linked with auroras.

NASA launched the Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration (IMAGE) mission to study auroral phenomena and magnetosphere dynamics. IMAGE's explorations provided unprecedented three-dimensional images of the Earth's magnetosphere, enhancing scientists' understanding of how solar wind interacts with Earth's magnetic field to create auroras.

A unique cultural event, the Poetry North of the Border event was launched to integrate art with the scientific appreciation of auroras. It encouraged poets to compose works inspired by the ethereal beauty of northern lights, bridging the gap between artistic and scientific perspectives on natural wonders.

In late October 2003, a series of powerful solar storms reached Earth, causing one of the most intense auroral displays in decades, visible much further south than usual. These storms, sometimes called the 'Halloween Solar Storms', affected satellite communications and even caused power outages, showcasing the global impact auroras can have on technology.

On March 7, 2012, Earth experienced a massive solar storm that triggered a dramatic auroral display over large parts of the globe. The storm ranked among the strongest of Solar Cycle 24 and provided valuable data for researchers probing the space weather impacts on Earth's magnetosphere and the resulting auroral phenomena.

Researchers announced significant findings on auroral substorms, a dynamic aurora phenomenon. By analyzing data from various satellites, scientists were able to map the magnetic reconnection process that triggers substorms, further unlocking the mysteries behind the auroral lights and providing critical insights into planetary magnetospheres.