The Polar Ultraviolet Imager (UVI): A Dozen Years of Auroral Science

The Polar satellite, originally scheduled for a two-year mission, recently celebrated its twelve-year anniversary of operations. The Ultraviolet Imager (UVI), one of three imagers on Polar, is a camera designed to view Earth’s aurora in ultraviolet wavelengths. That remarkable mission is now drawing to a close and the Polar satellite is scheduled to be shut down by the end of the month. This presentation is intended to be a celebration of the UVI investigation and, more importantly, a tribute to the UAH-MSFC collaboration that designed, built, tested and operated the instrument. UVI images allow scientists to monitor the location and behavior of the aurora, determine auroral energies and properties of Earth’s upper atmosphere. Advantages of space-based imaging of the aurora and imaging of the upper atmosphere in general will be discussed. Results will be presented from UVI and form other global imagers before and after the Polar era.<br />

Dr. Glynn Germany

UAH CSPAR