STEVE over Copper Harbor
The story
What creates STEVEs? Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancements (STEVEs) have likely been seen since antiquity, but only in the past five years has it been realized that their colors and shapes make them different from auroras. Seen as single bright streaks of pink and purple, the origin of STEVEs remain an active topic of research. STEVEs may be related to subauroral ion drifts (SAIDs), a supersonic river of hot atmospheric ions. For reasons currently unknown, STEVEs are
Highlights
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Frequently asked
What is this image of?
What creates STEVEs? Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancements (STEVEs) have likely been seen since antiquity, but only in the past five years has it been realized that their colors and shapes make them different from auroras. Seen as s…
Who captured it?
This image is credited to MaryBeth Kiczenski, featured via NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day.
When was it published?
NASA featured this image on 2021-05-05.
Can I use this image?
NASA imagery is generally free to use for education; check the official APOD page for specific credit and licensing.
See it in full resolution
Open NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day for the high-resolution image, full explanation and credits.
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