[MIham] Aurora Mystery Mission

[Frank]

Space Weather News for Feb. 16, 2007
http://spaceweather.com

AURORA MYSTERY: Scientists have been watching and studying auroras for
centuries.  But if you thought everything is known about Northern Lights,
you'd be wrong. One key mystery is the "auroral substorm."  Sometimes, with
no warning, gently shimmering pale auroras erupt in a riot of
wildly-shifting colors. Why?  The answer could reveal important new
information about Earth's magnetosphere.

On Saturday, Feb. 17, NASA plans to launch a fleet of five satellites into
Earth orbit.  The name of the mission is THEMIS and its goal is to crack the
mystery of the auroral substorm.  Visit Spaceweather.com over the weekend
for launch photos and mission updates.

MIRA VARIABLE:  Meanwhile, 400 light years from Earth, a red giant named
Mira has swelled larger than the orbit of Mars. The pulsating star is now at
maximum brightness and can be seen with the naked eye after sunset.
Brightness: 2nd magnitude, similar to the stars of the Big Dipper. Take a
look, you may be seeing the future. Our own Sun could become a Mira-variable
when it evolves to red gianthood five billion years from now.

Visit http://spaceweather.com for sky maps and more information.

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