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Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Aurorae over Planet Earth
NASA ^ | October 11, 2012 | (see photo credit)

Posted on 10/11/2012 4:14:24 AM PDT by SunkenCiv

Explanation: North America at night is easy to recognize in this view of our fair planet from orbit, acquired by the Suomi-NPP satellite on October 8. The spectacular waves of visible light emission rolling above the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario in the upper half of the frame are the Aurora Borealis or northern lights. Encircling the poles and extending to lower latitudes, impressive aurorae seen during the past few days are due to strong geomagnetic storms. The storms were triggered by a solar coronal mass ejection on October 4/5, impacting Earth's magnetosphere some three days later. The curtains of light, shining well over 100 kilometers above the surface, are formed as charged particles accelerated in the magnetosphere excite oxygen and nitrogen in the upper atmosphere.

October 11, 2012

(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; astronomy; aurora; science
[Credit: NASA, NOAA, GSFC, Suomi NPP, Earth Observatory; processing by Jesse Allen and Robert Simmon]

1 posted on 10/11/2012 4:14:30 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
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To: cripplecreek; brytlea; decimon; bigheadfred; KoRn; Grammy; married21; steelyourfaith; Mmogamer; ...
Interesting, aurorae from space, with Michigan and the Great Lakes in the shot.

2 posted on 10/11/2012 4:17:53 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: SunkenCiv

Just imagine if this had been in color. Wow.


3 posted on 10/11/2012 4:17:53 AM PDT by MestaMachine (obama kills and none dare call it treason)
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To: SunkenCiv

Where’s Detroit? Can’t seem to see it on this map.

Kind of like that map of Korea.


4 posted on 10/11/2012 4:29:47 AM PDT by left that other site (Worry is the Darkroom that Develops Negatives.)
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To: SunkenCiv

Very, very cool! Thanks Sunky!


5 posted on 10/11/2012 4:41:21 AM PDT by momtothree
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To: left that other site

Detroit is brighter than any Ohio city!


6 posted on 10/11/2012 6:17:13 AM PDT by Baseballguy (If we knew what we know now in Oct would we do anything different?)
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To: Baseballguy

Fires?


7 posted on 10/11/2012 6:24:20 AM PDT by left that other site (Worry is the Darkroom that Develops Negatives.)
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To: left that other site

HA!!! HA!!!!!!

That’s HILARIOUS!!!! :-D

Probably IS fire!


8 posted on 10/11/2012 7:09:34 AM PDT by joethedrummer
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To: joethedrummer

Detroit is a Warning to America.


9 posted on 10/11/2012 7:19:37 AM PDT by left that other site (Worry is the Darkroom that Develops Negatives.)
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