Aurora borealis
Latest about Aurora borealis
![Spacecraft studying Earth's magnetosphere collectively observed how solar particles reach the upper atmosphere and create glowing auroral beads in the night sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/b6MLcCf2TuFmSskrYsVqsD-320-80.jpeg)
Glowing 'auroral beads' appear strung across the night sky. Here's what creates them.
By Samantha Mathewson published
A group of 13 telescopes allowed researchers to observe the process behind a unique type of aurora, known as auroral beads, for the first time.
![This colorized image captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory space telescope shows a powerful solar flare blasting from the sun on March 31, 2022.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VeYVkBHWAu9a2Zi4rYxXt7-320-80.jpg)
The sun let out another flare and the photos are stunning
By Tereza Pultarova last updated
NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured yet another solar flare blasting from the same overactive sunspot that triggered radio blackouts and stunning aurora displays on Earth earlier this week.
![The northern lights over Greenland. The oldest documented observation of an aurora may date to the early 10th century B.C.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/v8qnqFZ3RESSTkS3gw5A4K-320-80.jpeg)
Earliest documented aurora found in ancient Chinese text
By Laura Geggel published
The oldest documented observation of an aurora may be in an ancient Chinese text.
![Auroras dazzle above a cabin in Trapper Creek, Alaska on April 11, 2022.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/khwvYfGNx6gpYadgLq5vCV-320-80.png)
Haunting northern lights glow in green in images taken from Alaska (photos)
By Elizabeth Howell published
Strong solar activity generated green glowing auroras over Alaska, as one photographer witnessed April 11 from Trapper Creek.
![An aurora could happen as far south as New York City.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jL6cgNvNRcfynLqJiChQPb-320-80.jpeg)
Solar storm could supercharge northern lights as far south as New York
By Elizabeth Howell published
After a dead sunspot hurled a ball of plasma toward Earth earlier this week, medium-sized auroras may stretch even farther south than usual.
![An image of the spinning orb of blue light moving across an aurora-filled sky in Alaska.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gL4LGyZ9VSenLrBWkTSFQ-320-80.jpeg)
Chinese rocket photobombs aurora with spinning orb of light
By Harry Baker published
A spinning orb of light that slowly moved across the sky in Alaska on March 29 was actually frozen fuel left by a Chinese rocket, according to experts.
![An aurora shines above west central Saskatchewan, Canada in this image taken March 30, 2022 by photographer Jenny Hagan.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tTJVkdYPdiqwRFbbtEHYUB-320-80.jpg)
Stunning northern lights from intense solar storms thrill stargazers (photos)
By Elizabeth Howell published
A series of solar storms aimed at Earth this week have supercharged the Earth's auroras, creating dazzling displays for skywatchers.
![NOAA's G GOES-16 satellite captured the eruption, the white area near the top and center of the image, that occurred around 7:29 a.m. EDT on March 28.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rEKhjGps3MX2yX3ecfUbV7-320-80.jpg)
Earth braces for solar storm, potential aurora displays
By Tereza Pultarova published
A powerful solar storm is set to hit Earth on Thursday with spectacular aurora displays accompanying it after the sun fired nearly 20 flares from a single sun spot in just two days.
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