{"id":844,"date":"2017-04-24T15:00:24","date_gmt":"2017-04-24T15:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/aurorawatchuk\/?p=844"},"modified":"2017-04-24T15:00:24","modified_gmt":"2017-04-24T15:00:24","slug":"citizen-scientists-discover-new-type-of-aurora","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/aurorawatchuk\/2017\/04\/24\/citizen-scientists-discover-new-type-of-aurora\/","title":{"rendered":"Citizen scientists discover new type of aurora"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n \"File
\n The aurora Steve.
\n R\u00e9mi Farvacque\u200e\/Alberta Aurora Chasers (facebook)<\/a><\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nathan Case<\/a>, Lancaster University<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

A collaboration between aurora-hunting citizen scientists and a team of professional researchers has resulted in the discovery of a completely new type of aurora. The finding was made possible thanks to photos taken by aurora enthusiasts from across the globe which scientists could then compare with data from satellites. \"The<\/p>\n

The aurora, more commonly known as the northern or southern lights<\/a>, form when electrically charged particles collide with the gases in our upper atmosphere. These charged particles, which have been accelerated into our atmosphere by the Earth\u2019s magnetic field, transfer their energy to the atmospheric gases (such as nitrogen and oxygen). This extra energy is then released in the form of light which gives us the majestic aurora. <\/p>\n

The aurora varies in strength depending on how active the sun is. Normally, an aurora is only visible near the magnetic poles but, when particularly active, it can be seen from much further away<\/a>. <\/p>\n

We generally see the aurora as a band about the poles (known as the auroral oval). This band is often green, with tinges of red or purple thrown into the mix. But sightings of this new phenomenon were different \u2013 straight away people noticed it didn\u2019t look like the \u201cnormal\u201d aurora.<\/p>\n

When pictures first starting appearing on social media<\/a>, the odd aurora was widely assumed to be what is known as a \u201cproton arc<\/a>\u201d, but scientists knew that this wasn\u2019t right<\/a>. Proton arcs are caused by protons (positively charged particles which make up the atomic nucleus along with neutrons) colliding with neutral gases in the atmosphere. Proton aurora<\/a> are not visible by eye and are broad and diffuse. This new type of aurora, however, was visible by eye and was a bright, structured band of purple in the night sky. They knew it had to be something else \u2013 but what?<\/p>\n

\n \"\"
\n Meet Steve, the bright purple band reflected in the lake.<\/span>
\n Dave Markel Photography, ESA<\/span><\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Aurorasaurus<\/a> citizen science project issued a call to arms to collect sightings of this as-yet-unnamed aurora. Over 50 sightings<\/a> from countries including Canada, US, UK and New Zealand were reported during 2016 and 2017. Because this type of aurora didn\u2019t yet have a name, the citizen scientists called it \u201cSteve\u201d (after the animated children\u2019s film, Over the Hedge<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The biggest breakthrough<\/a> in identifying \u201cSteve\u201d came when Eric Donovan, an associate professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Calgary in Canada, found an instance where a photo was taken of \u201cSteve\u201d at the same time as one of the European Space Agency\u2019s Swarm satellites<\/a> passed above it. Donovan found that as the satellite flew straight though Steve, data from the electric field instrument showed very clear changes.<\/p>\n

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