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Rosetta data reveal an invisible ultraviolet aurora around comet 67P

Solar wind electrons smash water molecules to make the comet’s version of the northern lights

Comet 67P's aurora

Comet 67P has its own aurora — but unlike Earth’s vibrant northern and southern lights, 67P’s auroral flare shimmers in invisible ultraviolet light.

NAVCAM/Rosetta/ESA

By Maria Temming

- More than 2 years ago

Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko has its own version of the northern lights.

Observations taken by the Rosetta spacecraft reveal the comet’s aurora, which — unlike Earth’s eye-catching light shows — shimmers in invisible ultraviolet light, researchers report online September 21 in Nature Astronomy.