Unlock the mysteries of the universe by subscribing to CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter. Immerse yourself in the captivating world of scientific breakthroughs that extend beyond conventional laboratory settings. Enter a pub in Calgary, Alberta, and you could be at the epicenter of history-making discoveries. It was there that a rare light phenomenon, known as Steve, was observed, forever altering our understanding of the cosmos.
First brought to the attention of space physicist Elizabeth MacDonald at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Steve’s aesthetic of purple-pink arches and green stripes caught the imagination of citizen scientists and eager photographers. Gathering at a local Irish pub, they sought to understand and identify the magnificent lights that danced across the Canadian skies.
Eventually, the elusive phenomenon took on a name borrowed from a popular animated movie. As the “in-person meeting” at the pub gave momentum to study the lights further, scientists were able to identify Steve as a visual manifestation of subauroral ion drift, a narrow flow of charged particles in the Earth’s upper atmosphere. Despite having a scientific acronym to go with its unofficial name, Steve held onto its title as it made its way into the scientific lexicon.
Capturing an image of Steve is as much about luck as it is about understanding the conditions under which it appears. Sky photographer Donna Lach, who has witnessed Steve two dozen times, relies on remote, light pollution-free locations and monitoring conditions that are most conducive to the light phenomenon’s appearance.
You too can participate in scientific discoveries by joining online communities and engaging with sky photography. Scientists are particularly interested in 2022 as the sun reaches a period of heightened activity, increasing the likelihood of remarkable light shows. As the sun’s maximum period kicks in, you might find yourself witnessing the enchanting spectacle of Steve, particularly around the equinoxes in the spring and fall.
Take your smartphone camera and embark on a mission to capture Steve in its purple-pink brilliance. These captivating mysteries of the Northern Hemisphere are waiting to be unveiled through your lens. Join the ranks of citizen scientists who have turned scientific curiosity into captivating visual stories of light and color dancing across the night sky.
