New images captured by SMILE, a joint mission between ESA and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, show the entire auroral oval surrounding Earth’s North Pole in ultraviolet light, a global view that has not been seen in this way for around 18 years. The video also shows the ring becoming brighter during a geomagnetic substorm, when stored energy in the magnetosphere is suddenly released and particles are accelerated toward the polar regions. As these particles enter the upper atmosphere, they excite atmospheric gases and produce the auroral glow. Observing the aurora from space makes it possible to study it as a complete, dynamic structure rather than only from individual locations on the ground.

August solar eclipse offers an opportunity to test nighttime propagation during the day. Interesting for North American stations: around 17Z, they may have a chance to work Asia on the low bands while still in full daylight, as the eclipse temporarily reduces D-layer absorption.