The photo shows a rare phenomenon of aurora.
In a rare sighting, a strange line of light has formed in the sky over southern Canada as a result of an unexpected solar storm that hit Earth on August 8, Newsweek reports.
Photos of the phenomenon circulated on social networks and attracted many users. Alan Dyer, a Twitter user, shared a post on Tuesday along with the captured images.
Great performance by the @STEVEPhenomena last night Aug 7-8, arcing across the sky and showing its green fingers briefly for about 2 minutes. STEVE lasted about 40 minutes, appearing as the Kp5 northern aurora subsided. This was 12:30am MDT from southern Alberta. @TweetAurorapic.twitter.com/EtKF6udfFk
— Alan Dyer (@amazingskyguy) August 8, 2022
While sharing the images, he wrote: “Awesome display of @STEVEPhenomena last night 7-8 August flying across the sky and briefly showing its green fingers for about 2 minutes. STEVE lasted about 40 minutes, appearing as the Kp5 aurora in the north subsided. This was 12:30am MDT from southern Alberta. @TweetAurora”
The strange sight took place as the northern lights faded and lasted about 40 minutes. This airborne phenomenon is known as STEVE (Strong Thermal Emission Rate Enhancement), and it was discovered in 2016 by Canadian citizen scientists, according to Newsweek.
Users were surprised by the unexpected event. They flooded the comment section of the post with their interpretations of the phenomena, while others made beautiful remarks about it.
“STEVE was ‘discovered’ here so he likes to show up here more than anywhere else! Seriously, Western Canada is at the right geomagnetic latitude to see many of these phenomena in the sub-auroral zone. Kp5 like last night often leads to STEVE shows,” a user wrote.
Another said: “Actually the fence held up until SAID aka Steve disbanded.”
A third user simply said: “Amazing photos.”
STEVE usually appears in the night sky as a long purple line, but it can also create a distinctive “fence” pattern consisting of multiple parallel green stripes. It is believed to be created by similar atmospheric disturbances that cause the northern and southern lights, known as Aurora Borealis and Australis, and appears to correspond to solar storms, the publication said.
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