Let's call him STEVE: The amusing story of a not-Aurora phenomenon

What started as a misnomer and misclassification of a rare Aurora phenomenon turned into quite the fun story. How Steve got its name.

Something originally called a "proton arc" to describe a lavendar ribbon in the night sky on active aurora nights. Turns out it has nothing to do with protons! in a pinch, Chris Ratzlaff of Alberta Aurora chasers coined the name "steve" from over the hedge, the name they give to the mysterious bush. Later, that name was given a backronym "STEVE" solidifying the temporary name.

[jamesmiller]

Hope your okay brother, expected to see your spring forecast so I hope your doing okay.

[scienceoutthere]

Now what to do to fix SAR's? Which is a non-aurora but called Stable Aurora Red's. Now fielding name submissions.

[katymaloney]

Steve leaves you with that sweet emotion... it lights a strike in the air like an aero smith. Imma dream on and assume it's an homage to Steven Tyler's purple hair strand and silk scarves, call me crazy, I don't care! I'm livin on the edge.

[B]

5/10/24 9:45-10:15 PM. Lakes region NH. We were waiting for the big CME to hit our magnetosphere and dive down in. Clouds were about to start rolling in and we were bummed then all of a sudden boom. THe most magical display i have ever seen, going from east to west. I thought it was the "base" aurora and accepted that. Woke up the next morning and my first thought was wtf was that? I saw it and was entirely blind to "STEVE" I'll never forget it and hope one day im able to see it again! I'm quite far away from where it's normally observed actually, as i type this out and hear the explanation. Do auroras sometimes start with bands that can be mistake for steve? Or did i actually see it? They'd appear faint, some would brighten up a lot and then they would disappear from one end to the other. Almost looked like (for example) The shadow of gas that comes out of a lighter with out igniting it. Wow i typed with my head down and left you a wall of text, sry.

[herecomethelizards]

I thought this was a ribbon of hot plasma, rather than Aurora.
I saw your awesome fireball meteor on Spaceweather gallery.

We've had Supercells and tornadoes in the UK. High shear lowish CAPE setup.

[dalelerette]

Has anyone noticed the new solar phenomena "Steve" may be oddly aligned with ancient maps of Ley Lines? Dogs and cats living together? Who you gonna call, Ghost Busters?

[zinckensteel]

You speak of STEVE having a very high velocity - does that mean it moves across the sky rapidly? That would match what I saw back in 2002(?ish) in northern Ohio

[SimpleThings]

Question: Does this have an association with the solar flares coming off the sun? I am referencing at video Titled "12-01-2023 New Underwood, SD - Vibrant Aurora Timelapse Dancing Pillars." This was when we were supposed to see the aurora's from a sun flare that occurred from the sun and shot straight towards earth. So I am now confused about what it was. Thanks in advance.

[imdawolfman]

What's the source? giving something a name (like dark matter) doesn't mean you know what it is.
'It's just a huge, flashy, randomly twisting, very hot, very fast energy field', .

[Maineiach]

Why aren't you studying Electric Universe research that is already explaining all this stuff??