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Aurora is a shifting pattern of light emitted from atoms and molecules in the atmosphere after they have been ionized by collisions with charged particles from the sun. The radiation can be seen with the naked eye, most notably at the polar regions where the Earth’s magnetic field focusses most of the solar particles.
At Jupiter, isolated auroral patches have long been linked to particle injections from the magnetosphere. Here, the authors show that plasma waves can also scatter electrons into the atmosphere, triggering precipitation and producing aurora.
Geomagnetic substorms abruptly release energy, producing intense auroras and magnetic disturbances during an expansion phase. Here, the authors show this expansion is part of a global cycle of currents and plasma flows shaped by dayside and nightside reconnection.
Two main acceleration mechanisms in the auroral acceleration region are electric potential and Alfvénic acceleration but associated energy dynamics are not completely resolved. Here, the authors show that Alfvén waves power the Earth’s auroral arc through a static potential drop in the auroral acceleration region.
Magnetospheric substorms are powerful space weather events with debated onset mechanisms. Here, the authors show that new radio precursors of auroral kilometric radiation coincide with wave-like aurora and reveal Alfvénic processes before substorm onset.
The detection of the auroral footprint of Jupiter’s moon Callisto is challenging, but a shift in Jupiter’s bright main auroral oval could provide an opportunity for potential detections. Here, the authors show observation of the ultraviolet footprint of Callisto using Juno spacecraft data, benefiting from such opportunity.
The discovery of Jupiter’s southern X-ray aurora reveals that it is tellingly different from the northern one, providing important clues to how Jupiter’s polar aurorae are generated.
The origin of the diffuse aurora, whose beauty and intensity pale beside those of the famous aurora borealis, has remained controversial. A convincing explanation for this auroral display is now at hand. See Letterp.943
