An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
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Pertaining to the → aurora phenomenon.

→ aurora; → -al.

The → electromagnetic radiation emitted in planetary atmospheres involving the → aurora phenomenon.

→ auroral; → emission.

1) A prominent → forbidden line in the spectra of the aurora at wavelengths of 5577 and 6300 Å giving the aurora its characteristic green and red colors. Both are emitted by atomic oxygen, the former in its transition from the second lowest excited electronic state (¹S) to the lowest excited electronic state (¹D), the latter in its transition from the lowest excited electronic state (¹D) to the atomic ground state (³P).
2) A forbidden line emitted by interstellar ionized gas by several atomic species (O, O⁺, O⁺⁺, N⁺, S⁺⁺, etc.) corresponding to the transition from the state ¹S to ¹D. → forbidden line; → nebular line; → transauroral line.

→ auroral; → line.

A roughly circular band around either geomagnetic pole above which there is a maximum of auroral activity. It lies about 10 to 15° of geomagnetic latitude from the geomagnetic poles.

→ auroral; → zone.

A forbidden line emitted by interstellar ionized gas by several atomic species (O, O⁺, O⁺⁺, N⁺, S⁺⁺, etc.) corresponding to the transition from the electronic state 1S to 3P. Examples are the ultraviolet line of the doubly ionized oxygen [O III] at 2321 A and [N II] 3063 A. → auroral line; → forbidden line; → nebular line.

→ trans-; → auroral line.