When is an aurora not an aurora
Published
Berkeley CA (SPX) Dec 11, 2023
The shimmering green, red and purple curtains of the northern and southern lights - the auroras - may be the best-known phenomena lighting up the nighttime sky, but the most mysterious are the mauve and white streaks called Steve and their frequent companion, a glowing green "picket fence." First recognized in 2018 as distinct from the common auroras, Steve - a tongue-in-cheek reference to