Steve: Northern Lights that really is not and confused scientists since its appearance

But these auroras are not the only thing that dazzles the sky since the scientists determined that the purple stripes with white shades captured by the photographers are not really aurora borealis.

The northern lights are one of the most sensational natural phenomena that can be seen in the night sky and for years photographers around the world were attracted by the spectacle of its green, red and blue lights.

But these auroras are not the only thing that dazzles the sky since the scientists determined that the purple stripes with white shades captured by the photographers are not really aurora borealis.

It deals with the Empowerment of Speed of Strong Thermal Emissions, better known as STEVE. According to researchers who recently published a study on STEVE, this natural phenomenon differs from the northern lights in its mode of origin.

Auroras are formed by colliding charged particles with the high strata of our atmosphere, but this is not the case with STEVE since they are not caused by the precipitation of particles.

Thus, the scientists analyzed the data collected in 2008 by the satellite POES-17 of a STEVE that took place over Canada. This satellite is equipped with equipment to detect particle changes in the ionosphere and on that occasion, there were no such changes. 

According to Bea Gallardo-Lacourt, space physicist, and author of the most recent study, STEVE has been defined as a phenomenon distinct from auroras and scientists need to study it to understand the processes that generate this light in the sky.

Also not the Onion:Eerie Sky Glow Called 'Steve' Isn't an Aurora, Is 'Completely Unknown' to Sciencehttps://t.co/eaJBPaVH4n pic.twitter.com/qFNp3Z1Jrq

— David Grinspoon (@DrFunkySpoon) August 23, 2018

Another aspect that differentiates STEVE from auroras is their frequency of appearance, says AGU100. While the auroras can be observed every night if the right conditions are met, the fine bands of the STEVE are seen a few times a year. 

ALSO READ| Hubble space telescope takes an impressive photo of Andromeda galaxy

According to the researchers, the next step will be to determine if it is the currents of accelerated ions and hot electrons in the ionosphere that create the flashes of the STEVE or if the light is formed in the highest layers of the atmosphere.