The purpose of the US Space Agency`s Themis Mission, which was recently in the news, is Option 3: To study the colorful display of high latitude skies.

The Themis Mission, short for Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms, is a NASA mission aimed at studying the Northern Lights, also known as the aurora borealis. The mission was specifically designed to investigate the vibrant and dynamic displays of the high latitude skies and understand the physical processes that give rise to these phenomena.

The aurora borealis occurs when charged particles from the Sun, known as the solar wind, interact with the Earth`s magnetic field and atmosphere. These interactions generate colorful lights that are most commonly observed in the polar regions. The Themis Mission focuses on studying the substorms that trigger auroral displays, seeking to understand their causes and how they affect Earth`s magnetosphere.

By launching multiple satellites into space, the Themis Mission aims to gather comprehensive data about the magnetosphere and the mechanisms that drive substorms. The satellites are strategically positioned to capture simultaneous measurements of auroral dynamics at different locations and altitudes, providing a multi-perspective view of these events.

The data collected by the Themis satellites helps scientists gain insights into the processes that occur within Earth`s magnetosphere, which in turn contributes to our understanding of space weather and its impacts on our planet. Space weather events, such as geomagnetic storms triggered by solar activity, can disrupt power grids, satellite communications, and other technological systems. By studying the aurora borealis and its underlying causes, scientists can improve our ability to forecast and mitigate the effects of space weather on Earth.

In summary, the Themis Mission`s primary objective is to study the colorful display of high latitude skies, particularly the aurora borealis, in order to better understand the physical processes and dynamics behind these phenomena and their relationship to Earth`s magnetosphere.