Astronomy/aurora borealis

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Expert: - 1/18/2010


Question
A student of mine asked the following question...
"If a person were standing at the North magnetic pole during an Aurora Borealis event, would they be able to see a ring?"

I felt that the horizon... in essence that the distances to the most active latitudes would be too great to see anything, but I don't really want to pretend that I'm certain of the answer.  I'd appreciate any help.  Thanks, Stephen Renaud.


Answer
Hello,

No, one wouldn't see the entire "ring" - which goes by the name "auroral oval" (and extends from about 67- 75 degrees in magnetic latitude)  since it is simply too large in extent. What one would observe - even at the north magnetic pole, is a large shimmering curtain of light which actually comprises only a segment of the whole ring. To see the whole ring, one would have to be observing the auroral oval from *space* (e.g. via a satellite or other spacecraft)

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Philip Stahl

Expertise

I have forty years of experience in Astronomy, specifically solar and space physics. My specialties include the physics of solar flares, sunspots, including their effects on Earth and statistics as applied to astronomical investigations.

Experience

Astronomy: more than forty years experience starting with construction of my own simple telescopes. Worked at university observatory in college, doing astrographic measurements. M.Phil. degree in Physics/Solar Physics and more than ten years as researcher.

Organizations
American Astronomical Society (Solar Physics and Dynamical Astronomy divisions), American Mathematical Society, American Geophysical Union

Publications
Solar Physics (journal), The Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, The Proceedings of the Meudon Solar Flare Workshop (1986), The Proceedings of the Caribbean Physics Conference (1985). Books: 'Selected Analyses in Solar Flare Plasma Dynamics', 'Physics Notes for Advanced Level'.

Education/Credentials
B.A. Astronomy, M. Phil. Physics

Awards and Honors
American Astronomical Society Studentship Award (1984), Barbados Government Award for Solar Research

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