Strong Thermal Emissions Velocity Enhancement (STEVE)
My Observations
Here is a summary of my observations of STEVE. It is a recently (in the last few years) discovered aurora-related phenomenon in the ionosphere and occurs a bit poleward of the main auroral oval. I have observed it in the sky quite a few times. It appears as a narrow ribbon of grayish purple and when seen with the naked eye can look like a jet contrail. It is not believed to be a true aurora as it does not result from precipitating electrons. Neverhteless, it occurs pretty much exclusively when there are active auroras and only during the about the warmer half of the year, mostly between spring equinox and fall equinox.
I am including a separate phenomenon here, too. The aurora groups have nicknamed it "Blobbert" because it reminds them of the ghost in Ghostbusters that doused everyone in green slime (if I remember the movie correctly).
April 26, 2012 0342-0410 UTC;
September 5, 2012 (Blobbert) 0230-0238 UTC;
August 16, 2013 0351-0420 UTC;
August 28, 2014 0547 UTC;
March 21, 2015 (Blobbert) 0403-0419 UTC and 0827-0850 UTC;
April 17, 2015 0408-0414 UTC;
September 7, 2015 0648 UTC;
October 7, 2015 0554-0605 UTC;
September 2, 2016 0204-0242 UTC;
August 12, 2016 (picket fence) 0334 UTC;
May 20, 2017 0358-0406 UTC;
May 28, 2017 0356-0402 UTC;
May 6, 2018 0331-0422 UTC; March 14, 2021 0633-0700 UTC; July 23, 2022 0450-0500 UTC, August 8, 2022 0745-0804 UTC
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| My first observation of STEVE on April 26, 2012 from 0342-0410 UTC. |
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| "Blobbert" appears September 5, 2012 0232-0238 UTC. |
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| STEVE stretched from horizon to horizon, overhead on August 16, 2013 0351-0420 UTC. |
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| STEVE under a high voltage transmission line August 28, 2014 0547 UTC. |
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| "Blobbert" appears March 21, 2015 0403-0419 UTC. |
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| "Blobbert" reappeared the same day (March 21, 2015) 0827-0850 UTC. |
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| Some green in STEVE on April 17, 2015, 0408-0414 UTC. |
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| STEVE appears September 7, 2015 0648 UTC. |
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| STEVE appeared briefly on October 7, 2015 as the main auroras diminished and retreated north from 0554-0605 UTC (looking SW). |
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| Picket fence auroras appear in the northern sky on August 12, 2016 at 0334 UTC. |
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| Looking overhead and just south as STEVE showed up on September 2, 2016 0204-0242 UTC. |
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| Picket fence auroras high in the northern sky on May 20, 2017 at 0358-0406 UTC. |
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| STEVE appeared in the far southern sky May 28, 2017, 0356-0402 UTC. |
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| STEVE and the picket fence, overhead on May 6, 2018, 0331-0422 UTC. |
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| STEVE 0633 UTC on March 14, 2022. |
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| STEVE and picket fence auroras on March 14, 2022 at 0641 UTC. |
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| Picket fence auroras at 0700 UTC on March 14, 2022. |
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| STEVE and the picket fence, 0451 UTC on July 23, 2022 0458 UTC. |
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| STEVE and the picket fence in Montana at 0725 UTC August 8, 2022. |
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