Auroras appear in broad daylight in Smile spacecraft's eerie first images of Earth - Space photo of the week
The joint European-Chinese Smile satellite has captured its first ultraviolet images of Earth, revealing giant auroras occurring in broad daylight. These observations provide new insights into how solar particles interact with Earth's magnetic field.
Why it matters
Advancements in satellite imaging technology improve our understanding of space weather and its potential impact on Earth's atmosphere and technology.
The joint European-Chinese Smile satellite officially began its science operations this week, sharing a ghostly image of Earth's sunlit North Pole ringed by giant auroras.
By Brandon Specktor Edited by Laura Geggel , Laura Mondrag n Published 4 October 2026 In Features When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here's how it works .
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Earth glows like a half moon while a giant aurora writhes over the North Pole in this ultraviolet image from the new Smile spacecraft.
What it is: An aurora on the sunlit side of Earth
Where it is: Over the North Pole, as seen from about 75,000 miles away
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