Scientists have determined the cause of the 2022 aurora that spanned 4,000 km and lasted for 28 hours. The aurora, which occurred on December 25, 2022, was caused by a significant drop in solar wind density, reaching as low as 0.5 cm-3. This rare event led to the formation of a gigantic, diffuse green aurora, known as 'polar rain,' visible across the polar cap. Norwegians witnessed this phenomenon as extra-energetic electrons streamed from the Sun, creating a spectacular display in the night sky.
A lack of solar wind made an unusually smooth and gigantic aurora that spanned the polar cap during December 2022 visible from Earth’s surface. https://t.co/nYagxHunJY https://t.co/3fn1FHdmg8
A lack of solar wind made an unusually smooth and gigantic aurora that spanned the polar cap during December 2022 visible from Earth’s surface. Learn more in a new study: https://t.co/YZt0lW0v6u @ScienceAdvances https://t.co/YYkyKYChNm
On 25 December 2022, Norwegians woke up to a light dusting of snow and a downpour of extra-energetic electrons streaming straight from the Sun. When the solar wind died down, this “polar rain” caused a gigantic, diffuse green aurora. https://t.co/TxgIZNkKHR
NASA has announced a "once-in-a-lifetime" cosmic explosion will be visible to Earth-dwellers sometime in 2024. https://t.co/QJpdSIDDtm
Scientists have determined the cause of the 2022 aurora that spanned 4,000 km and lasted for 28 hours. “As the polar rain aurorae filled up the night sky, the solar wind density dropped to as low as 0.5 cm-3—something that almost never happens.” https://t.co/L4vTEcx0ky
Scientists have determined the cause of the 2022 aurora that spanned 4,000 km and lasted 28 hours. “As the polar rain aurorae filled up the night sky, the solar wind density dropped to as low as 0.5 cm-3—something that almost never happens.” https://t.co/L4vTEcx0ky