Ferocious solar storm brings aurora borealis to US, UK skies
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A rare occurrence of the aurora borealis, typically seen in more northern latitudes, was observed farther south than usual, stretching from Ireland and Britain to the Czech Republic and Germany.
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Northern lights near Alabama, US (X)
Rare sightings of the aurora borealis illuminated the night skies across the UK, Europe, and the northern hemisphere. The phenomenon was observed in various locations, including Whitley Bay on the northeast coast, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Wokingham in Berkshire, Suffolk, Kent, Hampshire, and Liverpool.
Reports emerged from Ireland, where the meteorological service Met Eireann shared images of the lights above Dublin and Shannon Airport in County Clare.
okay i’m speechless and overjoyed! spent ages in the garden staring up at the aurora. on a warm summer night too. what a time to be alive.
— emmalition🗡️ (@emmalition) May 10, 2024
i only said “it’s like Skyrim” once pic.twitter.com/nUgyYX2TU5
Met Office spokesperson Stephen Dixon said on Friday, “Although the shorter nights will limit the visibility window, there’s a good chance to see the aurora, particularly on Friday night and especially in Scotland, Ireland, and parts of northern England and Wales."
“There could even be visibility further south if you have the right equipment," he added.
“Those conditions could continue on Saturday night but we still have to work out some details on where exactly that will be,” he further stressed.
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Aurora displays happen when charged particles interact with gases in the Earth's atmosphere near the magnetic poles. In the northern hemisphere, this phenomenon primarily occurs within a region referred to as the aurora oval, spanning latitudes between 60 and 75 degrees. During periods of heightened activity, this oval expands, allowing sightings to occur further south than usual.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the US issued an unusual warning of a severe geomagnetic storm on Friday, advising operators of power plants and satellites in orbit to implement precautionary measures. NOAA mentioned that the storm might generate auroras visible as far south as Alabama and northern California.
NOAA reported that the storm is expected to reach its peak as at least seven coronal mass ejections combine and approach Earth late on Friday or early on Saturday. NOAA also stated that geomagnetic storm activity is predicted to remain high throughout the weekend.
This is making me emotional! I never expected to see this in Alabama! pic.twitter.com/pGxz5Sm5gy
— Amber Kulick ⛈️ (@AmberKulick_wx) May 11, 2024
It is worth noting that experts advise seeking out areas with minimal light pollution and facing north for optimal views of the aurora borealis. However, many excited observers who shared their sightings on social media found the phenomenon easily visible without much effort.
NASA's science satellites may face heightened radiation levels as a result of the solar storm. Antti Pulkkinen, director of the space agency's heliophysics science division, stated that if necessary, highly sensitive instruments would be deactivated to prevent damage. Multiple spacecraft focused on observing the sun were closely monitoring the situation.
“This is exactly the kinds of things we want to observe,” Pulkkinen said.
