NASA | The Mystery of the Aurora

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With spring right around the corner it is the season for auroras. The beautiful and mysterious auroras are spectacular to watch, but they are actually a manifestation of violent space weather. This weather can create big problems here on Earth by disrupting power grids, satellites, air travel and even GPS signals. While auroras have fascinated observers for centuries, little had been known about their origin. But NASA is aiming to resolve this mystery with a new mission called THEMIS.
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[@TheTittyTotty]

I lived in "northern" Norway where there was auroras almost everyday in the winter. It was so amazing and definitly worth seeing once at least.

[@grass2865]

nice vid

[@belle029]

It’s nice how scientists explain the mystery of the world. But sometimes there just some mystery has to be mystery itself.

[@master1140]

If you're primarily talking about when electrons collide with our atmosphere gases..you're correct but just to clarify slightly. The electrons with high amounts of energy interact/collide with gas molecules. This kinetic energy is transfered to electrons within the energy levels of the gas atoms (oxygen, nitrogen, argon etc).

[@darkchron]

You should go to Tromso(ø) Norway for auroras. Alot of people around the world come here for that.

[@draeday22]

That's the wisest statement I've ever seen on KZbin, I give you a pat on the back because that is extremely true.

[@KazielErnestoNavarrete]

un regalo inolvidable de la naturaleza

[@riceman1230]

How awesome. I'd love to see it in person though. Someday. :)

[@vetzrah4437]

did you ever see them? its been 13 years

[@riceman1230]

@@vetzrah4437 Not yet 😄

[@bluejeanss]

well said

[@Marilenemary]

Very good!

[@thekoiponds]

thx for the explaining

[@mrpumpkinn]

@KingArcbound Explaining how things happen should not take away from the majesty of it. Indeed, as our our understanding of the cosmos increases, the more we realise how spectacularly grand it is in scale, and how much there is still for us to learn. There have been those throughout history who have sought to suppress knowledge and keep people in ignorance...ALWAYS at the detriment to the many, and the benefit of the few. I, for one, am happy that scientists are revealing such mysteries!

[@darkchron]

Not in summer time, when it is dark here. Around winter time or right before.

[@leceal]

Thank you for your support =) and thanks for respecting my opinion! have a good day!

[@somethingnotraecist]

Dang this is truly crazy. I honestly would like to see them in person.

[@master1140]

These eletrons "jump up" an energy level (creating what you COULD call slight instablilities" This electron is more stable within a lower level. It "jumps down" and the kinetic energy it had recieved releases light of specific set and discreate wavelenghts and frequencies.

[@malmisch]

i have seen the northern lights... a sight which i cannot forget...in kiruna, northern sweden

[@genogeno1234]

not once did they mention these are birkeland currents (i.e., electric current flowing within interplanetary plasma). NASA is still in denial about this electric sun issue.

[@RaMenace888]

That's wonderful to hear. Cheers!

[@TNRuss]

I love the Lights !

[@lilshorty613]

this is so amazing!

[@subswithnovideos-og7ro]

thats cool

[@mayush99999]

well, i forgot to say that collision with different atoms would create different colors, thanks for reminding!

[@CandymanoO9]

that was awesome, this beautiful phenomenom is my topic on my thesis,, it was so interesting,,

[@nitujha7007]

So great is this

[@mayush99999]

Subscriber here awaiting!! although I guess.. The theory of aurora formation is based on Alfven wave electronic interaction; The molecules are electrically excited and the ionic electrons take quantum leaps; a mechanism in which electron's kinetic energy is converted to visible light and the different atoms collision produce different colors which we see them as AURORAS!!

[@Luigi199619961]

Have you ever heard of "a discovery of one thing, always leads to the question of another" Try thinking more.

[@allisoncheng9693]

woahhh if you live in VA say ayyyyyyyyyyyy

[@mayush99999]

Are you saying that, the kinetic energy differs the color, or wave length and frequencies, not the collision with different energy levels?

[@Aerobatique]

Long story short it's due to our magnetic field. The particles from solar wind etc. become trapped in the magnetic field and spiral back and forth along the field lines at the poles, where the field lines merge into the Earth. Thus why they are brighter and more visible in Alaska rather than Europe is because Alaska is closer to the North Pole.

[@orientalboy86]

but why are auroras in middle and south europe only very weak and red while they are very strong in northern parts of the earth like norway, finland, sweden, canada, alaska etc ??

[@draeday22]

Although I am religious and I DO BELIEVE IN GOD AND I'M A SAVED CHIRSTIAN, I agree with you 1000 percent, certain people don't want to hear about certain things, you are entitles to your own opinion and I definately respect it, of course if I were you, I would feel the same way.

[@zeppis2]

arround what time in the year?

[@KingArcbound]

Agreed, sir

[@fjordivae3007]

And us humans from the future are sitting here snickering and laughing about all the improvements we’ve made since 11 years ago :)

[@KaileexXxKiba]

pause at 0:32

[@master1140]

Ah no no. Sorry, I was incorrect in my explanation previously (it was getting late:P). What affects the different set values of frequency and wavelengths of light emitted is actually the excited electrons jumping down the fixed energy levels of the gas atoms then emitting light. I was unclear in stating that incident electrons are absorbed by the gas molecules/atoms. What occurs is basically a form of "The Photoelectric Effect". Electrons jumping down levels transform energy into emitted light.

[@roygbiv330]

now i noticed that the solar storm is generated by the scheme which is totally the same as of the electro field generating antena. the solar storm can transmit an amount of energy to the earch.

[@mayush99999]

Thanks, your points are true too! though i don't understand it directly, i'll try to get it.. :D

[@spricus0221]

why wouldnt they let us see them

[@music9752]

These lights are of the wonders of God!!!

[@KingArcbound]

Three years later I feel much differently.

[@nuptualplumage]

@KingArcbound describing something with science does not kill its wonder. Science only describes one dimension of a phenomena, it lends nothing to the mystery that anything exists at all.

[@RegiQ1]

I once could observe the Polar lights it Fantastic show! :0)

[@brantc]

Solar electrons hitting the earths atmosphere, that would be electricity creating a plasma.

[@MrLoooda]

9gag sent me here !

[@leesulah]

I would give a gps to see the auroras!!

[@AlwaysAbiggerFish]

It really is the aliens entering the amptosphrer, just kidding

[@jetstream2blue]

This is a one from few video with aurora. It's beautiful. Success with TEMIS! I'm wondering if you have a device for measure the magnetic field into your pocket, will record any different activity than normal during the aurora? (I suppose yes) -good music-

[@robertweekes5783]

@RobinDropping That is grossly oversimplifed tripe.

[@RaMenace888]

Is it really any less wonderful if you understand it?

[@jumpinpizza]

i see them lots in canada :)

[@robertweekes5783]

Ok mr know-it-all, can you tell me why the Earth's magnetic field flip flops about every 200,000 years?

[@draeday22]

But can you explain that more ? It's like philosophy. . .

[@orientalboy86]

ah ok thank you very much for the answear ;)

[@robertweekes5783]

@KingArcbound There are plenty of mysteries left, and every answer leaves new unanswered questions...

[@KingArcbound]

"Pretty soon, Auroras may not seem as mysterious after all" I am having trouble seeing what is good about that. There we go, one by one, eliminating all of the wonders in the universe. Our damned curiosity.

[@paramachakraborty8073]

Well said and very true...

[@miralovesmakeup]

bad word..

[@howlingthunder3141]

hi

[@mayush99999]

yeah right!! :P

[@mayush99999]

study solar cycle!!

[@mayush99999]

nahh!! aurora do not make sounds!! but if we see them ... we think that they make sounds but actually they do not!!!

[@repainkrompir]

could u imagine to watch this on shrooms! ..i wish i would have a chance to do this...it would be spectacular to watch it.

[@leceal]

Be realist, we do not know if god exist or not, but if he exist, it would be irrelevant to human life... so enjoy the nature and the stuff with it and keep your religion to you and your believer partners...the rest of us just want to enjoy science

[@rosyheart]

the Only Mystery is why you do not awe in Nature's Show...silly scientist$ So here: what is up with the colours are they edited, EFX, Filters?Special Film? i never saw colours like this when i viewed NL 70'-80's* Just wondering, if you know...*

[@thecheese448]

i mean mache

[@thecheese448]

you can tell that this is green screened and paper mashed

[@Akemi-love]

That just looks like Backrooms level 260

[@mrpumpkinn]

@bedwettingliberal its got nothing to do with pollution. It's due to magnetic forces!

[@KingArcbound]

I cannot brain.

[@AstralApple]

haha

[@VillsvinJeger]

How about spending those millions on something we can do something about....like the economy. What a waste these NASA projects are.

[@KaileexXxKiba]

@TheVisionaryGamer I'm not a sir! I'm a shim xD and I'm aware of my mind's condition. I really need to get it cleaned! lol

[@Holcomb227]

@goodbyebluesky1000 don't exaggerate. it's impossible to be infinitely smarter than someone else. and yeah, I know, he was discrediting them. but he probably hasn't played with his poop for a good 8 years.

[@somethingnotraecist]

@goodbyebluesky1000 yeah listen to them

[@KaileexXxKiba]

Miss* And yes I do. XD

[@mrpumpkinn]

@bedwettingliberal Hey.. there's no accounting for people on here. It wouldn't be the dumbest thing I had seen on here.

[@abbazin102]

666 at 1:11 lol

[@bluey295]

this reminds me of the pokemon deoxys lol

[@wiez5]

... HAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH