APOD: Planet Aurora (2015 Jun 26)

[APOD Robot]

Planet Aurora

Explanation: What bizarre alien planet is this ? It's planet Earth of course, seen through the shimmering glow of aurorae from the International Space Station. About 400 kilometers (250 miles) above, the orbiting station is itself within the upper realm of the auroral displays, also watched from the planet's surface on June 23rd. Aurorae have the signature colors of excited molecules and atoms at the low densities found at extreme altitudes. The eerie greenish glow of molecular oxygen dominates this view. But higher, just above the space station's horizon, is a rarer red band of aurora from atomic oxygen. The ongoing geomagnetic storm began after a coronal mass ejection's recent impact on Earth's magnetosphere.

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[Boomer12k]

Awesome.... Molecular Oxygen....Atomic Oxygen.... What are the differences???

Thanks.

:---[===] *

[Nitpicker]

Awesome.... Molecular Oxygen....Atomic Oxygen.... What are the differences???

Thanks.

:---[===] *

I didn't know either, so I looked it up:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allotropes_of_oxygen

[Boomer12k]

Awesome.... Molecular Oxygen....Atomic Oxygen.... What are the differences???

Thanks.

:---[===] *

I didn't know either, so I looked it up:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allotropes_of_oxygen

No!!!!..... Head.....bursting.....from too......many......new terms.......passing.....out......uhhhhhhh......

Thanks,
:---(===) *

[kellogg]

Amazing!

There's an article in Space.com about auroras on Mars possibly being visible from the surface.
Makes me wonder if Hubble could spot Mars auroras from space?

Scott

[songwriterz]

"Shields up, Mr. Spock!"

[Ron-Astro Pharmacist]

I'd say it's an obvious case of "glow ball "warming except we all know that's from increases in carbon dioxide. But isn't CO2 heavier than O2? I'm no expert in atmospheric gasses but as CO2 emissions increase you wonder what other effects may occur. Guess we'll just have to sit back and watch the fireworks as they will likely soon occur.

http://www.gi.alaska.edu/AuroraForecast/NorthAmerica

At least - in Canada. Us in the US will have to make our own

[starsurfer]

Jupiter and Saturn are also known to exhibit aurorae.

[Evenstar]

The magnetosphere encompasses a large area around Earth... Where is the ISS orbit relative to it/in it? On the ISS is there human exposure/risk? Is the crew "hiding out" within the densest shielded areas until the storm passed?

[Chris Peterson]

I think the magnetosphere encompasses a large area around Earth... Where is the ISS orbit relative to it? On the ISS what is the human exposure / risk? (Is or) Did the crew need to "hide out" within extra shielded areas until the storm passed?

The primary risk to astronauts is cosmic rays. CMEs actually reduce their exposure to cosmic rays for a short period, and don't typically produce particles which penetrate the ISS. However, for particularly strong solar flares there are radiation safety protocols that involve relocating to more highly shielded areas of the space station, or even reorienting the entire structure.

[John Erickson]

Another interesting feature of note in this photograph--It shows stars! At first I was puzzled, because daytime photos of Earth from ISS never show stars. Then I realized that this is not a daylight photo. (It is amazing how much it looks like one.) The exposure they used to make the auroral light show up well in the photo also made the stars show up. Or so I suppose.

[Markus Schwarz]

Another interesting feature of note in this photograph--It shows stars! At first I was puzzled, because daytime photos of Earth from ISS never show stars. Then I realized that this is not a daylight photo. (It is amazing how much it looks like one.) The exposure they used to make the auroral light show up well in the photo also made the stars show up. Or so I suppose.

I hadn't noticed that. Thank you for pointing this out.