Aurora Throughout Our Solar System

Earth’s northern lights aren’t alone. There are also aurorae on Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Venus -- and even exoplanets.

By Eric Betz
Jun 3, 2021 7:00 PMJun 3, 2021 5:00 PM
jupiter aurora
Jupiter's aurora. (Credit: NASA, ESA, and J. Nichols (University of Leicester))

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The majestic Northern and Southern Lights have mystified humans for millennia. During the long, dark nights of winter — when the space weather is right — green and purple clouds can blanket polar skies from horizon to horizon. The glowing lights dance and move in curtains and arcs, building up to a crescendo of color before they disappear. 

Earth’s aurorae aren’t alone in our solar system either. Telescope observations and visiting spacecraft have found evidence for aurorae on Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Venus — and even exoplanets. And with a recent discovery about Jupiter’s mysterious “dawn aurora” released in the journal AGU Advances, astronomers continue to unravel the mysteries of these lights across our solar system. 

(Credit: Roen Kelly/Discover)

Aurorae on Earth

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