+ Visit NASA.gov + Advanced Search   + About the Server   + Animation List   + How to Use the Server   + RSS Feeds Previous Animation Next Animation THEMIS Sees Magnetic Reconnection THEMIS observations confirm for the first time that magnetic reconnection in the magnetotail triggers the onset of substorms. Substorms are the sudden violent eruptions of space weather that release solar energy trapped in the Earth's magnetic field.    THEMIS reconnection animation Available formats:   1280x720 (60 fps) Frames   320x180     PNG           213 KB   160x80       PNG           54 KB   80x40         PNG           13 KB   512x288 (60 fps) MPEG-1   18 MB   1280x720 (60 fps) MPEG-2   96 MB How to play our movies    Print resolution stills of reconnection event. Available formats:   2400 x 3000     TIFF 14 MB   320 x 400         PNG 525 KB   160 x 80           PNG 60 KB   80 x 40             PNG 15 KB    Print resolution still of auroral event. Available formats:   2400 x 3000     TIFF 14 MB   320 x 400         PNG 529 KB Animation Number: 10267 Animator: Walt Feimer (Lead) Studio: NASA Completed: 2008-06-18 Scientist: Vassilis Angelopoulos (University of California, Berkeley) Instrument: THEMIS Series: Auroral Substorms - the View from Space Keywords: SVS >> Aurora SVS >> HDTV SVS >> Magnetic Reconnection SVS >> THEMIS     Please give credit for this item to NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab Back to Top + Privacy Policy and Important Notices + Reproduction Guidelines NASA Official: Content Contact: Curator: