... Every morning, the LRPG determines if the previous night's batch-LRP was successful and examines any differences between the last released LRP and the current LRP. ... Was the nightly LRP run successful? ... check that an "AUTO" LRP was created for the most recently run nightly batch-LRP process. ... Daily working LRP names are alphabetically sequenced (A, B, C, ... under normal circumstances, often only A will get created and later released). ... For each run, two files are generally created. ...

... 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? ...

... Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2014 March 9 . A Hole in Mars . Image Credit: NASA , JPL , U. Arizona . Explanation: What created this unusual hole in Mars? ... The hole appears to be an opening to an underground cavern, partly illuminated on the image right. ... About APOD | ... NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply . ...