Northern Lights Mystery May Be Solved

SPACE.com Staff

Date: 26 February 2012 Time: 01:01 PM ET

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Astrophotographer Shawn Malone of Marquette, Mich., took this shot of an aurora on Feb. 18, 2012. Malone appears in the photo seated in the chair. CREDIT: Shawn Malone View full size image

Scientists may have solved a longstanding mystery about the origin of the energetic particles that cause Earth's dramatic aurora displays.
The electrons responsible for the auroras — also known as the northern and southern lights — are likely accelerated to incredible speeds in an active region of Earth's magnetosphere, according to a new study. This region is 1,000 times larger than scientists had thought possible, providing enough volume to generate lots of the fast-moving electrons, the study reports.

MORE: http://www.space.com/14679-northern-lights-mystery-earth-magnetosphere.html


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