How Smile will turn auroras into a map of space weather

Smile reached its science orbit on June 20 after launching on May 19, and its four instruments have now completed the commissioning needed for science operations.[4] The mission will combine soft X-ray and ultraviolet imaging with magnetic-field and charged-particle measurements to study how the solar wind interacts with Earth’s magnetosphere.[4][15] Why it matters: Space weather can affect electronic infrastructure on Earth and in orbit, so observing both the solar wind and Earth’s large-scale response could improve researchers’ understanding of how geomagnetic storms form and evolve.[4] Key insights: Smile’s ultraviolet camera is the first since 2008 to capture the full ring of northern lights around the north pole in ultraviolet, with observing stretches lasting 45 hours.[12] | Its first released ultraviolet footage recorded an auroral substorm on July 24, when compressed magnetic-field lines released energetic particles toward the poles.[12] | The soft X-ray imager was tested on the supernova remnant N132D before beginning long-running observations of X-rays produced at the edge of Earth’s magnetosphere.[13] | The light ion analyser uses two sensors to measure the energies of solar-wind particles approaching Earth.[15] Cheatsheet facts: What changed: Smile completed commissioning and was approved to begin science operations on September 23.[4] | Why now: The spacecraft has tested its four-instrument toolkit after reaching its target science orbit on June 20.[4] | Watch next: Watch for coordinated measurements from the soft X-ray imager, ultraviolet aurora imager, magnetometer, and light ion analyser during solar and geomagnetic activity.[4]