What Planets Should Have Aurora?

[Kingofawesome13]

So, I am in development of a plugin that adds Aurora. Which planets are you interested in having Aurora?

Keep in mind that not all the planets should have aurora, let's keep it realistic.

[Sof]

All planets with magnetic fields and atmospheres.

No real way of judging which planets in KSP have magnetic fields, so just assume any with an atmosphere and a decent rotation.

[Spartwo]

Yes for all with atmospheres except Duna.

[MalfunctionM1Ke]

Now I am wondering.

Lets imagine there is a planet with a magnetic field but no atmosphere.

Would you see an effect on the Ground? Maybe a pattern that is burned into the Ground starting to show after millions of years?

I mean an Aurora is made by particles of the Solar Wind, not travelling with the Speed of Light but fast enough to ionize the upper Atmosphere.

[FITorion]

Any planet with a magnetic field... and an atmosphere... So... Kerbin, Jool, Maybe Eve.

I don't think there is any official word on the status of any of the planets magnetic fields but those three would be good guesses.

I suppose all that's needed is an atmosphere ... and a highly concentrated radiation environment... So Laythe could have Aurora all over it due to being inside Jool's Van Allen radiation belts.

[Cal'Mihe]

Auroras all over Laythe would make it a very majestic place to visit, I would love to see something like that

[Maddmatts]

Even with Io's trace atmosphere, its interaction with Jupiter's magnetic field creates some weak aurorae on both bodies. So it's very possible for Laythe to have them too.

[MiniMatt]

I believe Mercury has a strong magnetic field and an "atmosphere" of sorts that's continually blasted off comprised of vaporising water & more exotic stuff. As such, a view from the surface of the dark side is thought to be rather impressive.

[Sof]

No reason why Duna can't have auroras.

I believe Mercury has a strong magnetic field and an "atmosphere" of sorts that's continually blasted off comprised of vaporising water & more exotic stuff. As such, a view from the surface of the dark side is thought to be rather impressive.

Mercury has a weak magnetic field. 1% that of Earths.

While it was surprising that it had one at all, the fact it is so weak and that its exosphere is so tenuous means that it doesn't have aurora.

[boxman]

Yes for all with atmospheres except Duna.

Why not duna?? Mars has aurora in real life: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Mars_Express/Mars_Express_discovers_aurorae_on_Mars

[Sof]

Even though Duna is the Mars analogue, that doesn't mean it hasn't got a magnetic field.

[Whirligig Girl]

Kerbin, for sure, Maybe Eve or Laythe, and certainly Jool.

[Thomas988]

Kerbin, Eve and Jool seem like obvious candidates, and I think Laythe would be awesome too.

[FlamedSteak]

That's solar wind being deflected by Mercury's magnetic field that you would theoretically see on the dark side.