[FPSPACE] FW: Aurora Mystery Mission

[LARRY KLAES]

>From: SpaceWeather.com <swlist at spaceweather.com>
>To: SpaceWeather.com <swlist at spaceweather.com>
>Subject: Aurora Mystery Mission
>Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2007 18:51:38 -0600
>
>Space Weather News for Feb. 16, 2007
>http://spaceweather.com
>
>AURORA MYSTERY: Scientists have been watching and studying auroras for 
>centuries.  But if you thought everything is known about Northern Lights, 
>you'd be wrong. One key mystery is the "auroral substorm."  Sometimes, with 
>no warning, gently shimmering pale auroras erupt in a riot of 
>wildly-shifting colors. Why?  The answer could reveal important new 
>information about Earth's magnetosphere.
>
>On Saturday, Feb. 17, NASA plans to launch a fleet of five satellites into 
>Earth orbit.  The name of the mission is THEMIS and its goal is to crack 
>the mystery of the auroral substorm.  Visit Spaceweather.com over the 
>weekend for launch photos and mission updates.
>
>MIRA VARIABLE:  Meanwhile, 400 light years from Earth, a red giant named 
>Mira has swelled larger than the orbit of Mars. The pulsating star is now 
>at maximum brightness and can be seen with the naked eye after sunset.  
>Brightness: 2nd magnitude, similar to the stars of the Big Dipper. Take a 
>look, you may be seeing the future. Our own Sun could become a 
>Mira-variable when it evolves to red gianthood five billion years from now.
>
>Visit http://spaceweather.com for sky maps and more information.
>
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