1st hyperspectral image of aurora borealis reveals true colors of northern lights
Aurora imaging camera reveals detailed spatial distribution of colors in northern lights
Aurora spectroscopy camera provides fine spectroscopy of light
A team of researchers at the University of Calgary has developed a new hyperspectral camera system that can capture the true colors of the aurora borealis. The camera, called HySCAI (Hyperspectral Camera for Auroral Imaging), can provide a two-dimensional (2D) image of the aurora, resolved into each color wavelength.
This is the first time that a detailed spatial distribution of color has been observed in the aurora. Previous cameras have only been able to capture images in a single color, or have had limited spectral resolution.
The HySCAI camera uses a combination of optical filters and a spectrometer to capture images of the aurora in 1024 different wavelengths. This allows the researchers to create a detailed map of the colors in the aurora, and to identify the different emission lines that are responsible for each color.
The researchers used the HySCAI camera to image the aurora borealis from a research station in northern Canada. They were able to capture images of the aurora in a variety of different colors, including red, green, blue, and purple.
The researchers say that the HySCAI camera could be used to study the aurora in more detail, and to investigate the processes that cause the aurora to form.
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