SMILE Satellite Closes 18-Year Aurora Gap; First X-Ray Magnetopause View Weeks Away

The European-Chinese SMILE satellite released its first scientific images on September 30, 2026. Its ultraviolet camera delivered the first full view of the Northern Hemisphere's auroral ring in 18 years, while the X-ray image of the magnetopause is delayed by stray earthshine and is expected around mid-October.

• SMILE's UV camera captured the full northern auroral ring for the first time since 2008
• X-ray magnetopause image delayed as SXI picks up stray earthshine
• First good X-ray view of the magnetopause expected around mid-October
• SXI is a wide-field lobster-eye telescope with the largest CCDs ever launched