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Астронет: Астрономическая картинка дня Северное сияние в Западной Виргинии http://variable-stars.ru/db/msg/1941881/eng |
Credit & Copyright: Jonathan Eggleston
Explanation:
A gravel country lane gently winds through this
colorful rural
night skyscape.
Captured from Monroe County in southern West Virginia
on the evening of October 10,
the starry sky above is a familiar sight.
Shimmering curtains of aurora borealis or
northern lights definitely do not make regular appearances here, though.
Surprisingly vivid
auroral displays were present on that night at very low latitudes
around the
globe,
far from their usual northern and southern
high latitude realms.
The extensive auroral activity was evidence of a severe
geomagnetic storm
triggered by the impact of a
coronal mass
ejection (CME), an immense magnetized cloud of energetic plasma.
The CME was launched toward Earth
from the active Sun following a powerful
X-class
solar flare.
Growing Gallery:
Global
aurora during October 10/11, 2024
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.