Skywatchers worldwide were treated to a magnificent aurora light show over the weekend, with northern lights reported as far south as Greece and Turkey. This colorful display was triggered by a strong geomagnetic storm that peaked as a strong G3 on the 5-grade scale used by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to assess space weather events. Geomagnetic storms are disturbances to Earth’s magnetic field caused by solar material from coronal mass ejections (CME). This particular storm was triggered by two CMEs that impacted Earth on November 4th and 5th, according to spaceweather.com.
During a solar storm, energized particles from the sun collide with Earth’s atmosphere at speeds of up to 45 million mph (72 million km/h). The planet’s magnetic field directs these particles towards the poles, supercharging molecules in the atmosphere and creating the awe-inspiring aurora displays. Normally limited to high latitudes for the aurora borealis (northern lights) and low latitudes for the aurora australis (southern lights), the recent storm allowed for sightings in areas as far south as Greece and Turkey.
Below are some of the best aurora photos captured by skywatchers around the world:
Debby Thorne captured this beautiful display from Cullen on the Moray Firth in Scotland with an iPhone 14 Pro in night mode on November 5th. Thorne expressed her amazement at the vibrant pink hues, usually more commonly seen as green with faint pink. She considers herself lucky to have witnessed such an incredible display and wonders what our ancestors must have thought when they saw the sky dancing. Thorne feels incredibly fortunate to experience this phenomenon from her back door in Scotland.
Meteorologist Angel Enriquez had an unforgettable experience capturing the aurora above Glasgow, Montana. At the urging of a coworker, he stepped outside and was able to take some memorable photos. The supercharged sky put on a fantastic show in mesmerizing shades of red and green.
Astrophotographer Josh Dury witnessed red auroras from the Mendip Hills in Somerset, UK. Despite cloudy conditions in most of the South-West, clear skies on the Mendips allowed for a stunning view of the beautiful red pillars low on the north horizon.
Astrophotographer Gareth Mon Jones captured a breathtaking view of the aurora above Penmon Lighthouse, Anglesey. This particular night showcased a “whopper of a display,” leaving his girlfriend thrilled to witness one of the best displays of the northern lights in a long time.
Philip McErlean marveled at the aurora borealis shining brightly above the southern shores of Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland. He described it as an exceptional night and one of the best displays he has ever seen and photographed.
Space weather physicist Tamitha Skov was at a loss for words when retweeting photographs of bright red auroras seen over Greece. She speculated about the changing magnetic field of Earth and the growing equatorial auroral shows possibly playing a role.
Not only were auroras reported, but a distinct phenomenon called STEVE made an appearance during the peak of the storm. STEVE, which stands for Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement, accompanies the aurora and is caused by hot streams of gas snaking through Earth’s magnetosphere. Photographer Steven lomas managed to capture mysterious STEVE above Dunstanburgh Castle in Northumberland, UK.
These incredible aurora displays and the appearance of STEVE are reminders of the captivating beauty and power of space weather. If you have photographs of the aurora or any other night sky phenomenon, we encourage you to share them with us at [email protected] for a chance to be featured on Space.com.
