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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.
Mesospheric ghosts are rare, faint, greenish transient luminous events. Here, the authors show metallic emissions revealed by the spectrum of a mesospheric ghost.
New northern aurora emissions on Uranus in the infrared spectrum are detected after a 30-year search. The emissions, observed close to equinox, are most likely caused by the 88% increase in upper atmosphere column density.
Jovian short bursts (S-bursts) are induced by the Io-Jupiter interaction. Here, the authors show a drifting radio burst detection method and report S-bursts related to Ganymede-Jupiter interaction and to Jovian aurora.
In our Solar System, whistler-mode chorus waves had been confirmed for all magnetized planets except Mercury. Finally, the first and second Mercury flybys in 2021 and 2022 by the BepiColombo/Mio spacecraft revealed chorus waves in the dawn sector.
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 Letter p.943
