What is "Steve" and why is it different to an aurora?

[KingClinton]

Hopefully some of you have already observed this phenomena with the auroras currently on display in much lower regions than usual.


https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source= ... y5wYkNhQZZ

[Graeme1858]

Thanks for the link Clinton.

I'm much less scared of it now!

Graeme

[Lady Fraktor]

Actually part of the commentary is wrong.
The name Steve was given by a Edmonton, Alberta, Canada astronomy group that had reported the phenomenon years ago.

[KathyNS]

Actually part of the commentary is wrong.
The name Steve was given by a Edmonton, Alberta, Canada astronomy group that had reported the phenomenon years ago.

I was just about to make the same point. Just as Americans tend to call all parts of the British Isles "England", Brits tend to call all parts of North America "The U.S.".

[messier 111]

thx for the link .

[Graeme1858]

Brits tend to call all parts of North America "The U.S.".

The report might have got the source wrong but it goes on to say "scientists", I don't see Canadians being referred to as Americans!

Scientists later adapted the name into an acronym - "Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement".

And it's not just sky-watchers who have shown an interest in Steve.

In 2019, the Canadian government minted a collector's coin worth $20 featuring the mysterious streaks of light.

I'll let the BBC know about the error of source!

Graeme

[Graeme1858]

[Lady Fraktor]

I believe the group that originally called it Steve were amateurs located around Elk Island Park, east of Edmonton, Alberta.
Not scientists or NASA as stated.

Very nice dark skies in that area

[JayTee]

The name Steve was given by an Edmonton, Alberta, Canada astronomy group that had reported the phenomenon years ago.

Granted, but why Steve? Wouldn't Larry have worked just as well?

[KathyNS]

Granted, but why Steve?

Although the attribution in the story was incorrect, the origin of the name was correct. It's from an animated film in which a character arbitrarily picks the name "Steve" for a scary phenomenon. The discoverers wanted to call it something, so they picked "Steve", based on the film.