NASA satellite captured the northern lights over Canada
A NASA satellite has captured a vivid aurora over the Danish Strait and eastern regions of Canada, triggered by a mild geomagnetic storm. The new mission will help scientists gain deeper insights into such phenomena.
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A satellite imaging instrument installed on a NASA spacecraft captured a vivid aurora over the Davis Strait and eastern regions of Canada. This phenomenon occurred as a result of a minor geomagnetic storm.
In the early hours of February 16, the VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) instrument aboard the Suomi NPP satellite took images that clearly show the northern lights. The first image captured the lights over the Davis Strait and Iceland at 4:45 UTC, which corresponds to 4:45 a.m. local time in Reykjavik. The second image displays the aurora over the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador at approximately 06:30 UTC (1:30 a.m. local time in Montreal).
The instrument detects light across various wavelengths—from green to near-infrared. Special filtering techniques are used to identify signals such as auroras. Although the images are presented in shades of gray, in reality, auroras are brightly colored and can appear green, purple, or in other hues.
This aurora was caused by a G1-class geomagnetic storm, which is considered weak. Despite its lower intensity compared to higher-class storms, a G1 storm can still cause electrical disturbances that lead to auroral displays. Such storms may result in minor disruptions to power grids and satellite operations. Later, the G1 storm intensified to a G2-class event.
With the launch of NASA’s new GNEISS (Geophysical Non-Equilibrium Ionospheric System Science) mission, the agency aims to gain a deeper understanding of the electrical environment where such phenomena occur.