Title: Spectacular Red Aurora Light Show Enthralls Skies Across Northern Hemisphere
Subtitle: Unprecedented Solar Storm Resulted in Astonishing Display of Red Northern Lights
Date: September 25, 2023
On September 24, a powerful storm of solar plasma hit Earth’s magnetic field, setting the night sky ablaze with a mesmerizing red light show. This unusual phenomenon, known as a red aurora, captivated observers across the northern hemisphere, from Europe to North America.
Red auroras are already a rare occurrence, but witnessing them as far south as France and Kansas with the naked eye is truly remarkable. Centuries ago, people in these lower latitudes considered the scarlet skies a foreboding sign of future war or tragedy. However, today, scientists understand that auroras, including both green and red lights, are a natural phenomenon that poses no harm to humans, although they continue to inspire awe.
The stunning visual spectacle is a result of solar particles ejected from the Sun colliding with the oxygen molecules in Earth’s atmosphere, creating a dazzling emission of light. The color of the aurora depends on the altitude within the atmosphere where the solar particles interact with oxygen.
Green curtains, the most common form of auroras, are caused by individual oxygen atoms emitting light in the upper atmosphere. Showers of high-speed electrons can push deeper into the atmosphere, compelling the more abundant nitrogen atoms and ions to emit blue and pink hues, which combine to form a soft purple at the edges of the curtains.
Deep red streaks of light, on the other hand, emerge from diffuse oxygen atoms at extremely high altitudes between 200 to 300 kilometers (124 to 186 miles). These deep reds are typically seen during particularly energetic solar storms when the thin gas can retain absorbed energy for longer periods before emitting longer wavelengths.
The solar storm impact on September 24 exceeded expectations, triggering a strong geomagnetic storm above Europe, resulting in vibrant green and red lights dancing across the skies of Scotland, Iceland, and the Netherlands. Subsequently, the captivating light show traversed the Atlantic Ocean, reaching North America. Even regions as far south as Kansas and Nebraska witnessed their skies bathed in an eerie red glow, albeit not as intensely as in the northern latitudes.
This year has been exceptionally exciting for aurora enthusiasts. Just months ago, in February, red auroras graced the skies of North America and Europe. Furthermore, September has already witnessed several astonishing northern light displays, extending to locations unusually far south, owing to a series of remarkable solar eruptions.
The current solar cycle has shown surprising levels of activity, with frequent eruptions from the Sun occurring more often than anticipated. In June, a particularly strong eruption even caused radio blackouts in the United States. Typically, the solar activity cycle extends for approximately 11 years, and currently, we are moving towards its peak.
While this heightened solar activity is a natural occurrence and poses no cause for concern, it undoubtedly provides awe-inspiring nights for those lucky enough to witness the breathtaking auroras in person. Aurora chasers are advised to stay tuned for further updates as researchers await the analysis of the recent solar blasts to determine their potential impact on future light shows.
Sources:
– EarthSky (@earthskyscience)
– Christopher Probert (@tophe_probert)
– Rj Roldan ™ ???? (@rjayroldan)
– Darth thromBOOzyt???? (@krasmanalderey)
– Raymond Kamstra (@kamstra_raymond)
– Stevo howells (@Stevo_SnakeDR)