For more information contact UAS Information Officer Kevin Myers at 796-6530 or by email.

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February, 24 2006
Mirror Images: Exploring Auroras at Each of the Poles

At times, the swirls and ripples of the aurora will occur in unison in each hemisphere. For years scientists at the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska Fairbanks have studied this effect, known as the conjugacy of the aurora. Although research is shedding more light on the issue, there isn't a clear-cut formula for when the aurora will mirror on the opposite end of the planet.

Professor of Geophysics, Hans Nielsen of the Geophysical Institute, will discuss the conjugate auroras in a free one-hour lecture on Monday, Feb. 27th. Mirror Images: Exploring Auroras at Each of the Poles will cover the basics on how the aurora is created, and offer insight to research projects that have tried to unlock the mysteries of the mirroring aurora. The lecture begins at 7:30 p.m. at Centennial Hall. All ages are welcome.

This is the fourth and final lecture in the 2006 Science for Alaska Lecture Series, an annual event coordinated and sponsored by the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION
Information on all lectures and presenters in the 2006 Science for Alaska Lecture Series may be found online at www.scienceforalaska.com.

AURORA MOVIE
To view a short movie of conjugate auroras, captured by NASA's Polar spacecraft in 2001, visit http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/gsfc/earth/pictures/polar/2001_295_small_rle_99f.mov. Credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

CONTACT
Hans Nielsen, Professor of Geophysics, UAF: 474-7414 Kevin Myers, UAS Public Relations and Marketing Director: 796-6539