UFO or phenomenon? Here's what purple and green lights across Northern Hemisphere's horizon really are
This rare celestial spectacle has generated significant interest this year, coinciding with the sun's increased activity, which amplifies the occurrence of breathtaking natural phenomena in the night sky. Consequently, there have been numerous reports of people witnessing Steve in locations where it is not commonly observed, including parts of the United Kingdom.
Approximately eight years ago, Elizabeth MacDonald, a space physicist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, found herself in Calgary, Alberta, attending a seminar.
At that time, she had never personally observed the unusual celestial event that would later be named Steve.
Interestingly, even among scientists dedicated to the study of auroras and various night-sky phenomena, the occurrence of Steve was relatively rare. Steve distinguishes itself by its unique features, manifesting as a purple-pink arch complemented by distinctive green, vertical stripes and often appearing closer to the equator than traditional auroras.
Elizabeth MacDonald highlighted a significant development in understanding Steve when a satellite directly observed the phenomenon, providing crucial data.
This observation led to a 2018 study proposing that Steve is a visual manifestation of a phenomenon known as subauroral ion drift (SAID).
While researchers were aware of the existence of SAID, its occasional visibility and connection to Steve were not known until this study. Steve differs visually from traditional auroras, which result from interactions between electrically charged particles and the atmosphere, appearing as dynamic ribbons of green, blue, or red light.
