Science Wrap: Daytime aurora, Chandrayaan 3 propulsion, snake-like shape on Sun

This week's science news covers details about Chandrayaan-3's Propulsion Module, a mysterious snake-like feature on the sun, the mesmerizing aurora lights in the day sky at Svalbard, and the alarming predictions about global warming's impending threshold.

Here are the top science news of the week.

Chandrayaan 3 propulsion moved back to Earth's orbit

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has confirmed that Chandrayaan-3's Propulsion Module (PM) has been moved from its lunar orbit to an Earth orbit, described as a unique experiment.
• ISRO shifted the Propulsion Module (PM) to Earth's orbit for continued Earth observations using the SHAPE payload.

• Careful planning avoided Moon collisions and Earth's geostationary belt issues.
• Utilising the PM's remaining fuel aims to gather more data for upcoming lunar missions, showcasing operational strategies for sample return missions.
• ISRO has confirmed Chandrayaan-3's mission success.
• The Propulsion Module (PM) transported the lander, and the SHAPE payload operated for three months as planned.
• Even after a month in lunar orbit, over 100 kg of fuel remains in the PM, thanks to precise manoeuvres by LVM3.

Snake-like feature spotted on the Sun

• NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory recently observed a fascinating event on the Sun—a snake-like shape on its surface known as a sigmoid eruption.
• This S-shaped magnetic filament, seen on December 6, isn't just a cool cosmic display; it could also signal upcoming solar storms.

• The sigmoid shape, often seen in the sun's atmosphere, shows a gathering of twisted magnetic field lines.

• Like a tightly wound spring, these lines can suddenly unwind, releasing a lot of energy in what scientists call a solar explosion.

• Explosions on the sun create huge bursts of solar wind and magnetic fields known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs).

• These bursts are closely studied because of their powerful nature and the impact they can have on Earth.

• The recent solar eruption has led scientists to wonder if a faint CME might be on its way to our planet.

Day-sky turns Pink in North Pole

In a surprisingly beautiful turn of nature, the sky near the North Pole turned pink during the day due to auroras, usually seen at night.

• In a surprisingly beautiful turn of nature, the sky near the North Pole turned pink during the day due to auroras, usually seen at night.

• Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago between mainland Norway and the North Pole, has constant darkness this time of year, allowing people to see the Northern Lights, even at noon.
• Spijkers, renowned for Northern Lights photography, captured a rare daytime aurora. Faint daylight mixed with vivid auroras, a result of sunspot AR3513's solar flares.
• These daytime displays, caused by solar particles on the dayside of the magnetosphere, differ from common nightside auroras.

Earth to cross global warming threshold in 2024

• Britain's Met Office warns that the global average temperature could exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius next year, aligning with the ongoing global warming trend and the influence of a significant El Niño event.

• The Met Office also notes that this year might become the hottest ever recorded, and 2024 could set even higher temperature records.

• The expected range is between 1.34 to 1.58 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels from the late 19th century.

• Scientists from institutions like NASA and Columbia University are raising a collective alarm, warning that the planet might cross the critical 1.5-degree threshold within this decade.