The "ring of fire" seen by satellite cameras around the polar caps (picture below) is probably created by electrons leaking from the tail's plasma sheet, whose magnetic field lines form a somewhat imperfect trap. ... One possible explanation involves the close association between auroral arcs and electric currents which flow along field lines between the ionosphere and distant space ( Birkeland currents ). ... That produces an extra resistance to the flow of current. ...

... Aurora from Space . ... Magnetic Storms . ... The "ring of fire" seen by satellite cameras around the polar caps (picture below) is probably created by electrons leaking from the tail's plasma sheet, whose magnetic field lines form a somewhat imperfect trap. ... One possible explanation involves the close association between auroral arcs and electric currents which flow along field lines between the ionosphere and distant space ( Birkeland currents ). ... Why no aurora at the magnetic poles? ...

... December 13, 1995 . A Delta Rocket Launches . Credit: NASA , KSC . Explanation: A Delta rocket is seen being launched in 1988. In use since 1960, Delta rockets have been launched successfully over 200 times. Scientific satellites placed into orbit by a Delta rocket include IUE , COBE , LAGEOS-I , ROSAT , EUVE , GEOTAIL , and WIND . A Delta rocket is scheduled to launch the X-ray Timing Explorer Satellite (XTE) in the very near future. Commercial launches include INMARSAT . ...

... SETI: Monday 7 December Ballyclare . ... Blackrock Castle Observatory: Cosmic Christmas Launch & Flood Relief Benefit: First Fridays at the Castle, December 4th. Blackrock Castle Observatory is launching Cosmic Christmas in association with RSVP Red Sandstone Varied Productions at the popular First Fridays at the Castle event on Friday December 4 th at 6pm. ... Deise Astronomy Club ). ... Tuesday, 1 December 2009 17:47 . International Year of Astronomy, Ireland National Node . ...

Russian . ... text in Russian) . ... The Behaviour of the Bz Component of the Magnetic Field in Coronal Mass Ejections . ... Cooperation of IZMIRAN and Sternberg Astronomical Institute in the Study of the Sublimational Component of the Solar Coronal Radiation . ... Solar Wind and Magnetic Storms in the 24th Solar Activity Cycle . ... text in English) . ... The Solar Corona in the Light of TRACE Observations . ... Expeditions of Irkutsk Astronomers to Total Solar Eclipses in 1981--2012 . ...