交错于乡道上空的STEVE与银河

2023年9月27日

STEVE and Milky Way Cross over Rural Road
Image Credit & Copyright: Theresa Clarke

Explanation: Not every road ends in a STEVE. A week ago, a sky enthusiast’s journey began with a goal: to photograph an aurora over Lake Huron. Driving through rural Ontario, Canada, the forecasted sky show started unexpectedly early, causing the photographer to stop before arriving at the scenic Great Lake. Aurora images were taken toward the north — but over land, not sea. While waiting for a second round of auroras, a peculiar band of light was noticed to the west. Slowly, the photographer and friends realized that this western band was likely an unusual type of aurora: a Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement (STEVE). Moreover, this STEVE was putting on quite a show: appearing intertwined with the central band of our Milky Way Galaxy while intersecting the horizon just near the end of the country road. After capturing this cosmic X on camera, the photographer paused to appreciate the unexpected awesomeness of finding extraordinary beauty in an ordinary setting.

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交错于乡道上空的STEVE与银河
影像提供与版权: Theresa Clarke

说明: 并非每条路的尽头都有STEVE。一星期前，一位天空爱好者的旅程目标为：去拍摄休伦湖上空的极光。在开车穿过加拿大安大略省的乡野时，预报将出现的天空美景却意外的提前开演，导致摄影者在抵达风景优美的五大湖之前就停了下来。因此他朝北所拍摄的极光照片之前景为陆地，而非庞大的水体。而在等待第二轮极光降临时，一条奇特的光带出现在西侧。过了一段时间之后，摄影者和他朋友才意识到，这条西侧的光带，很可能是一种不寻常类型的极光，其名称为增速导致的突发性热辐射（STEVE）。而且这例STEVE相当精采，它和银河系的中央盘面交错，并在乡道的尽头附近与地平线相交。在用相机记录下这个宇宙级的X型之后，摄影者停了下来，仔细体会在平凡环境里发现非凡之美的意外惊喜。（STEVE, Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement 增速导致的突发性热辐射）