Rare celestial lights are seen at Leh in Ladakh as the Sun is in an active phase, throwing out charged particles towards Earth in the form of an intense solar storm. This phenomenon usually throws up a kaleidoscope of lights seen near the north and south poles, but this year the solar activity has been so intense that these lights are seen as bright red skies and can be spotted as far south as Leh in Ladakh. 

Scientists from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru and the Bhabha Atomic Research Center, Mumbai stationed in Ladakh have beautifully captured these Auroral lights in the skies in Hanle and Leh. NDTV’s Pallava Bagla, who is also in Ladakh, witnessed this rare celestial spectacle.

“The Sun is currently active and there have been several intense flares in the last few months. These flares are so intense that we can witness aurora even in the lower northern latitudes such as Hanle,” said Professor Annapurni Subramaniam, Director of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru.

In a statement issued by the Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), it said “For an extraordinary fourth time during the current solar cycle, intense red-coloured Auroral activity was seen from Ladakh, India, and was photographed by astronomers of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) from Hanle, Leh, and Merak on the night of 10-11 October  2024. The aurora was captured by the all-sky cameras at Hanle and Merak throughout the night. The bright red emission in the northern sky was seen easily with the unaided eye and the Observatory staff photographed it with their cameras as well.”

“The All-Sky cameras at our Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO) at Hanle as well as at the proposed site of the National Large Solar Telescope in Merak, in Ladakh, captured a beautiful time-lapse video of the aurora, which started by 10:45 PM and continued to be intense until dawn”, said Dorje Angchuk, Engineer-in-charge of the Observatory, which is operated by IIA. 

“Our staff at Hanle could see the aurora easily with their unaided eyes and managed to photograph it as well”, he added.

“It is extremely rare to spot auroras at such low latitudes unless there are very severe geomagnetic storms,” said Professor Dibyendu Nandi, from the Center of Excellence in Space Sciences India (CESSI), Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata. 

He added the Space Weather Group had predicted this storm, and highlighted the possibility of widespread auroras, as well as the enhanced orbital decay of Low Earth Orbiting satellites.

Speaking to NDTV, Dr S Somanath, Chairman, of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Bengaluru confirmed that “All Indian satellites are safe and working smoothly and have not been impacted by this intense solar storm that hit Earth.”

According to scientists from the Bhabha Atomic Research Center “On October 10, Earth experienced a G4-class geomagnetic storm, triggered by a fast coronal mass ejection (CME) that erupted from the Sun. Geomagnetic storms are significant disturbances in Earth’s magnetic field caused by solar activity, particularly CMEs. 

The G-scale for geomagnetic storms ranges from G1 (minor) to G5 (extreme) and a G4 storm is classified as severe. Upon arrival, the CME interacted with Earth’s magnetosphere, leading to significant fluctuations in the magnetic field and resulting in a storm. The interaction between the CME’s magnetic field and Earth’s magnetic field facilitated enhanced Auroral activity. BARC has established the Major Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment (MACE) telescope at Hanle, Ladakh which monitors Gamma-ray bursts.

BARC said this storm resulted in the excitation of oxygen and nitrogen atoms in Earth’s upper atmosphere. This process occurs when energetic solar wind particles-primarily electrons-are accelerated along magnetic field lines toward the poles, where they collide with atmospheric atoms and molecules. These collisions excite the atoms, causing them to emit light as they return to their ground states. The excitation of oxygen at higher altitudes (>200 km) produces rare red auroras.

BARC says such storms can have severe consequences like high-frequency radio communications experiencing disruptions, affecting aviation and maritime operations. The increased particle flux also poses a radiation risk to satellite electronics. This event emphasizes the necessity for sustained monitoring and preparedness in the context of space weather phenomena. The impacts of solar storms, characterized by coronal mass ejections and solar flares, can transcend mere visual manifestations, leading to substantial disruptions in critical infrastructure and global communication systems.

Rare celestial lights are seen at Leh in Ladakh as the Sun is in an active phase, throwing out charged particles towards Earth in the form of an intense solar storm. This phenomenon usually throws up a kaleidoscope of lights seen near the north and south poles, but this year the solar activity has been so intense that these lights are seen as bright red skies and can be spotted as far south as Leh in Ladakh. 

Scientists from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru and the Bhabha Atomic Research Center, Mumbai stationed in Ladakh have beautifully captured these Auroral lights in the skies in Hanle and Leh. NDTV’s Pallava Bagla, who is also in Ladakh, witnessed this rare celestial spectacle.

“The Sun is currently active and there have been several intense flares in the last few months. These flares are so intense that we can witness aurora even in the lower northern latitudes such as Hanle,” said Professor Annapurni Subramaniam, Director of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru.

In a statement issued by the Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), it said “For an extraordinary fourth time during the current solar cycle, intense red-coloured Auroral activity was seen from Ladakh, India, and was photographed by astronomers of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) from Hanle, Leh, and Merak on the night of 10-11 October  2024. The aurora was captured by the all-sky cameras at Hanle and Merak throughout the night. The bright red emission in the northern sky was seen easily with the unaided eye and the Observatory staff photographed it with their cameras as well.”

“The All-Sky cameras at our Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO) at Hanle as well as at the proposed site of the National Large Solar Telescope in Merak, in Ladakh, captured a beautiful time-lapse video of the aurora, which started by 10:45 PM and continued to be intense until dawn”, said Dorje Angchuk, Engineer-in-charge of the Observatory, which is operated by IIA. 

“Our staff at Hanle could see the aurora easily with their unaided eyes and managed to photograph it as well”, he added.

“It is extremely rare to spot auroras at such low latitudes unless there are very severe geomagnetic storms,” said Professor Dibyendu Nandi, from the Center of Excellence in Space Sciences India (CESSI), Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata. 

He added the Space Weather Group had predicted this storm, and highlighted the possibility of widespread auroras, as well as the enhanced orbital decay of Low Earth Orbiting satellites.

Speaking to NDTV, Dr S Somanath, Chairman, of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Bengaluru confirmed that “All Indian satellites are safe and working smoothly and have not been impacted by this intense solar storm that hit Earth.”

According to scientists from the Bhabha Atomic Research Center “On October 10, Earth experienced a G4-class geomagnetic storm, triggered by a fast coronal mass ejection (CME) that erupted from the Sun. Geomagnetic storms are significant disturbances in Earth’s magnetic field caused by solar activity, particularly CMEs. 

The G-scale for geomagnetic storms ranges from G1 (minor) to G5 (extreme) and a G4 storm is classified as severe. Upon arrival, the CME interacted with Earth’s magnetosphere, leading to significant fluctuations in the magnetic field and resulting in a storm. The interaction between the CME’s magnetic field and Earth’s magnetic field facilitated enhanced Auroral activity. BARC has established the Major Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment (MACE) telescope at Hanle, Ladakh which monitors Gamma-ray bursts.

BARC said this storm resulted in the excitation of oxygen and nitrogen atoms in Earth’s upper atmosphere. This process occurs when energetic solar wind particles-primarily electrons-are accelerated along magnetic field lines toward the poles, where they collide with atmospheric atoms and molecules. These collisions excite the atoms, causing them to emit light as they return to their ground states. The excitation of oxygen at higher altitudes (>200 km) produces rare red auroras.

BARC says such storms can have severe consequences like high-frequency radio communications experiencing disruptions, affecting aviation and maritime operations. The increased particle flux also poses a radiation risk to satellite electronics. This event emphasizes the necessity for sustained monitoring and preparedness in the context of space weather phenomena. The impacts of solar storms, characterized by coronal mass ejections and solar flares, can transcend mere visual manifestations, leading to substantial disruptions in critical infrastructure and global communication systems.

Merak Village, Ladakh:

American scientists have issued a warning that a big solar storm is going to hit the Earth, and it may affect electronic communications. What will be its impact on India?

NDTV’s Science Editor Pallava Bagla travelled to high in the Ladakh where India observes the Sun, and spoke to Dr Annapurni Subramanian, Director of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, to get a grasp on the situation.

A solar storm is a sudden explosion of particles, energy, magnetic fields, and material blasted into the solar system by the Sun.

The incoming solar storm could disrupt telecommunications and satellites. Indian scientists are monitoring it, and experts at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said they have informed Indian satellite operators to take all precautions. The next few days are crucial for the Earth since the storm is heading towards the Blue Planet.

“The (solar) flare which occurred a few days ago is similar in terms of strength to the one which occurred in May,” Dr Subramanian said.

“So we would expect some kind of interference in the magnetosphere. But we would like to wait and see because it takes a few days to hit the Earth. We expect to do something tonight or tomorrow night to see if anything is happening,” she added.

“The predictions are that it can happen or it may not happen, we will have to wait and see,” Dr Subramanian said.

The strong solar storm in May produced aurora displays across the Northern Hemisphere.

When directed towards the Earth, a solar storm can create a major disturbance in Earth’s magnetic field, called a geomagnetic storm, that can produce effects such as radio blackouts, power outages, and beautiful auroras.

They do not cause direct harm to anyone on Earth, however, as the planet’s magnetic field and atmosphere protect us from the worst of these storms.

ISRO Captures the Signatures of the Recent Solar Eruptive Events from Earth, Sun-Earth L1 Point, and the Moon, on May 14, 2024.
| Photo Credit: ANI

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has captured the signatures of the recent solar eruptive events from Earth, Sun-Earth L1 Point, and the Moon.

A powerful solar storm impacted Earth earlier this month, triggered by the highly active region AR13664. This region unleashed a series of X-class flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) directed at Earth.

“This is the biggest Geomagnetic storm since 2003 in terms of its strength, as the flaring region on the Sun was as big as the historically important Carrington event that took place in 1859. Multiple X-class flares and CMEs have hit the Earth in the past few days. This had severe effects over high latitudes where trans-polar flights are already being reported to get diverted. More events are expected in the next few days,” ISRO said.

However the space agency said that the Indian sector got less affected as the main hit of the storm happened in the early morning of May 11, when the ionosphere was not developed fully.

“Also, being at lower latitudes, widespread outages haven’t been reported in India,” ISRO said.

Observations from Ground

ISRO said that the Global navigation satellite system network observations at the National Atmospheric Research Laboratory at Gadanki, Andhra Pradesh show decrease of the Total Electron Content (TEC) by more than 50% from May 10 midnight to May 11 morning.

“On 11 May daytime TEC was high by about 10% with large variations indicating disturbed ionosphere. In the evening TEC is nearly 30% more. No L band scintillation has been observed. Radar observations showed no bubble, consistent with TEC and scintillation observed by GNSS receivers,” ISRO said.

It added that the observations by the Thumba node of the Indian Network for Space Weather Impact Monitoring network was more dramatic.

“This is expected, as the ionospheric ring current, which is enhanced during geomagnetic storms, passes over the sky of Thumba,” ISRO said.

Observations from Space

ISRO said that it had mobilised all its observation platforms and systems to record the signatures of this event and that both Aditya-L1 and Chandrayaan-2 have made observations and signatures have been analysed.

It said that the ASPEX payload on-board Aditya -L1 is showing high speed solar wind, high temperature solar wind plasma and energetic ion flux till now.

“The X-ray payloads on-board Aditya-L1 (SoLEXS and HEL1OS) have observed the multiple X- and M-class flares from these regions during the last few days while the in-situ magnetometer (MAG) payload has also observed the events as it passed by the L1 point,” ISRO said

While the Aditya-L1 observes the Sun from the first Sun-Earth Lagrange point, the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter has also captured the signatures of these solar eruptive events from the lunar polar orbit. XSM has observed many interesting phenomena associated with this geomagnetic storm.

Indian spacecraft health

ISRO said that its Master Control Facility team was on alert and watchful of any Geomagnetic activity experienced by geo spacecrafts.

“Momentum Wheel speed deviations were observed along with MTC current saturation in few spacecraft. Spacecraft with one-sided panels had predominant signature variations which required frequent momentum dumping. Otherwise, overall operations were normal. No single event upsets were seen. Star Sensor (SS-2) in INSAT-3DS and Star Sensor (SS-3) in INSAT-3DR were turned off as per mission. Other than this there has not been any major upsets or anomaly observed in any of the 30 GEO spacecrafts so far,” ISRO said.

It added that none of the Earth Observation Satellites of ISRO which were visible from ISRO’s ground stations had any upsets or latch-ups.

Besides, the ISRO Navigation Centre has not noticed any significant degradation in the NaVIC service metrics till now, indicating no or negligible impact from the geomagnetic storm.

Bengaluru:

A powerful solar storm impacted Earth in early May 2024, triggered by the highly active region AR13664 in the Sun, ISRO said on Tuesday.

This region unleashed a series of X-class flares and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) directed at Earth.

According to ISRO, the resulting geomagnetic storm was the most intense since 2003, causing disruptions to communication and GPS systems.

“This is the biggest geomagnetic storm since 2003 in terms of its strength, as the flaring region on the Sun was as big as the historically important Carrington event that took place in 1859,” ISRO said in a statement.

Multiple X-class flares and CMEs have hit the Earth in the past few days, the space agency said.

“This (CME) had severe effects over high latitudes where trans-polar flights are already being reported to get diverted. More events are expected in the next few days,” ISRO noted.

The space agency said that the Indian sector got less affected as the main event of the storm happened in the early morning of May 11, when the ionosphere had not developed fully.

Also, being at lower latitudes, widespread outages haven’t been reported in India.

The Ionosphere was very turbulent over the Pacific and American sectors, ISRO said.

The Ionosphere is part of the Earth’s upper atmosphere, between 80 and about 600 km where extreme ultraviolet and x-ray solar radiation ionises the atoms and molecules, thus creating a layer of electrons.

The ionosphere is important because it reflects and modifies radio waves used for communication and navigation.

The main punch of this event so far arrived in the early morning hours of May 11 in India, when the Ionosphere was not fully developed, ISRO said.

ISRO said it has mobilised all its observation platforms and systems to record the signatures of this event. Both Aditya-L1 and Chandrayaan-2 have made observations and signatures have been analysed.

“The ASPEX payload on-board Aditya-L1 is showing high speed solar wind, high temperature solar wind plasma and energetic ion flux till now,” the space agency said. PTI GMS ANE

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Auroras illuminated the skies across many regions on Saturday. This was the second time in a row on May 11 that auroras lit up the skies across swaths of the planet.

This spectacular celestial show, which is usually confined to the far northern reaches of the planet and is called “northern lights”, is triggered by a powerful solar storm.

A report by news agency AFP stated that this powerful solar storm could also continue on Sunday.

Why do we get auroras?

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), on Sunday, shared a thread on X (formerly Twitter) explaining the phenomenon.

Why do we get auroras on Earth after eruptions occur on the Sun? A thread. ????

(Images:
Left: a solar flare captured by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory.
Right: Aurora seen from Lummi Island, Washington, at 10:54 p.m. PT on May 10, 2024. Credit: Jeff Carter) pic.twitter.com/0seln79n0p

— NASA Sun & Space (@NASASun) May 11, 2024

NASA explained the two things that they call solar eruptions—solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs).

NASA wrote, “There are two things we call solar eruptions: solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). They often occur together, but not always. Solar flares are intense flashes of light — a result of the Sun’s complex magnetic fields abruptly rearranging themselves.”

There are two things we call solar eruptions: solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). They often occur together, but not always.

Solar flares are intense flashes of light — a result of the Sun’s complex magnetic fields abruptly rearranging themselves. pic.twitter.com/s6qYXQIkw8

— NASA Sun & Space (@NASASun) May 11, 2024

Talking about CMEs, it added, “Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are giant clouds of solar particles laced with magnetic fields that escape from the Sun. These giant clouds can travel anywhere in the solar system, including to us here on Earth.”

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are giant clouds of solar particles laced with magnetic fields that escape from the Sun. These giant clouds can travel anywhere in the solar system, including to us here on Earth. pic.twitter.com/HiuoTtSe3W

— NASA Sun & Space (@NASASun) May 11, 2024

NASA said that because solar flares are light, they reach Earth in about 8 minutes, while CMEs can take days to reach us. However, when they do they can set the aurora light.

“Solar flares reach us quickly — light only takes about 8 minutes to reach Earth. Because CMEs are made up of particles, they may take days to reach us. But when they do, they can set the aurora alight,” added NASA.

Solar flares reach us quickly — light only takes about 8 minutes to reach Earth.

Because CMEs are made up of particles, they may take days to reach us.

But when they do, they can set the aurora alight. pic.twitter.com/0L0WDJmwWy

— NASA Sun & Space (@NASASun) May 11, 2024

In addition, when these CMEs collide with Earth’s magnetic field, they dump “solar particles into near-earth space.” Now, these particles dive into earth’s atmosphere in a ring “around the poles, called auroral oval.”

“When a CME collides with Earth’s magnetic field, it can dump solar particles into near-Earth space. These particles follow Earth’s magnetic field lines as they dive into our atmosphere in a “ring” around the poles called the auroral oval,” NASA wrote.

When a CME collides with Earth’s magnetic field, it can dump solar particles into near-Earth space.

These particles follow Earth’s magnetic field lines as they dive into our atmosphere in a “ring” around the poles called the auroral oval. pic.twitter.com/xT4U7SG3Tq

— NASA Sun & Space (@NASASun) May 11, 2024

After these incoming particles strike gases, present in Earth’s atmosphere, it heats up and starts glowing. NASA stated, “The incoming particles strike gases in our atmosphere, causing them to heat up and glow: the aurora. The colours depend on the type of gas and its altitude. Oxygen glows red or blue; nitrogen can be green, blue, or pink.”

The incoming particles strike gases in our atmosphere, causing them to heat up and glow: the aurora.

The colors depend on the type of gas and its altitude. Oxygen glows red or blue; nitrogen can be green, blue, or pink.

Image Credit: NASA/Aurorasaurus pic.twitter.com/9uqicvBPSl

— NASA Sun & Space (@NASASun) May 11, 2024

Sharing a glimpse of last night’s northern lights reported in the Bahamas, NASA wrote, “Powerful, repeated eruptions like those we’ve had recently can widen the auroral oval, pushing aurora to lower latitudes. Last night, northern lights were reported as far south as the Bahamas!”

Powerful, repeated eruptions like those we’ve had recently can widen the auroral oval, pushing aurora to lower latitudes. Last night, northern lights were reported as far south as the Bahamas!

Here’s last night’s view from Bear Lake, Utah. Credit: NASA/Bill Dunford pic.twitter.com/E5BnrvqqpP

— NASA Sun & Space (@NASASun) May 11, 2024

Meanwhile, from northern Europe to Australia’s Tasmania, the sky-gazers last night witnessed stunning auroras that painted the skies in pink, green, and purple.

New Delhi:

NASA has recorded two explosions on the surface of the sun which unleashed powerful solar flares on Friday and Saturday. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory meticulously documented the solar eruptions which sent ripples of electromagnetic energy hurtling towards Earth. 

“The Sun emitted two strong solar flares on May 10-11, 2024, peaking at 9:23 p.m. EDT on May 10, and 7:44 a.m. EDT on May 11. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured images of the events, which were classified as X5.8 and X1.5-class flares,” NASA said in a statement. 

The Sun emitted two strong solar flares on May 10-11, 2024, peaking at 9:23 p.m. EDT on May 10, and 7:44 a.m. EDT on May 11. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured images of the events, which were classified as X5.8 and X1.5-class flares. https://t.co/nLfnG1OvvEpic.twitter.com/LjmI0rk2Wm

— NASA Sun & Space (@NASASun) May 11, 2024

What followed was a cosmic spectacle, as Earth braced for the impact of these solar storms. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued alerts as the first of several coronal mass ejections (CMEs) surged towards our planet. 

For skywatchers across the globe, this celestial drama unfolded in stunning auroras that painted the skies with vibrant hues of pink, green, and purple. From northern Europe to Australia’s Tasmania, sky-gazers were able to capture stunning photos courtesy of the rare phenomena. 

Solar storms, while mesmerising, pose potential risks to technological infrastructure. Fluctuating magnetic fields induced by geomagnetic storms can disrupt power grids, communication networks, and satellite operations.

Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX and Starlink, acknowledged the challenges posed by the solar storm, noting the strain on satellite operations. Despite concerns, Musk reassured that SpaceX’s satellites were well equipped to handle the solar storm. 

New Delhi:

Starlink, the satellite arm of Elon Musk’s SpaceX, on Saturday, warned users of a “degraded service” as the biggest geomagnetic storm struck the Earth due to solar activity in a very long time.

“Starlink is currently experiencing degraded service. Our team is investigating,” the company wrote on its website.

Earlier, in a post on X, the tech billionaire highlighted the severity of the storm, saying that it has put Starlink satellite fleet under intense pressure and described it as “the biggest in a long time”.

“Major geomagnetic solar storm happening right now. Biggest in a long time. Starlink satellites are under a lot of pressure, but holding up so far,” Elon Musk wrote.

According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a major storm is currently occurring, which is the largest one since October 2003.

This storm is expected to continue over the weekend and poses potential risks to various systems such as navigation, power grids, and satellite navigation.

Meanwhile, Elon Musk has said that Tesla will be investing over $500 million in its Supercharger network to create thousands of new chargers in 2024.

“Tesla will spend well over $500 million expanding our Supercharger network to create thousands of new chargers this year,” Elon Musk wrote on X.

He also said that this money only accounts for new sites and expansions, and not for operations costs, which are much higher.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Rare stable auroral red arc event in Ladakh due to solar storms, creating spectacular northern lights in high latitudes

In Ladakh, astronomers at the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve saw a red glow on the northwest horizon in the sky from about 1 am on May 11 that continued till early dawn.

“We were fortunate to witness Aurora activities on our all-sky camera during regular telescope observations,” Stanzin Norla, an engineer at the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve, told PTI.

He said a faint red glow was visible to the naked eye along the horizon and the event was captured in much detail by a DSLR camera installed at the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve.

“It streaked through the sky from about 1 am till 3:30 am,” Stanzin said, adding that the skies turned red along the horizon and to a pinkish hue later.

Dorje Angchuk, an engineer at the Indian Astronomical Observatory in Hanle, described the event as a stable auroral red arc, which was a rare occurrence over the skies at Ladakh.

“Auroras seen near the north or south poles are dynamic events. They keep changing. But the one witnessed at Ladakh was more stable. It is called the stable auroral red arc. The steady glow remained in the sky for a couple of hours”, Angchuk said.

Such events are rare at Hanle because it is located far south, Dibyendu Nandi, Head, CESSI at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, told PTI.

He said the chances of such events being witnessed at places such as Hanle become higher during intense disturbances triggered by solar storms.

“These auroral red arcs are likely caused by heating of the atmosphere by electric currents that are circulating between Earth and outer space,” Mr. Nandi said.

“These ring currents get enhanced during geomagnetic disturbances induced by solar storms and thus the likelihood of observing the red auroral arcs is higher at times when we are in the midst of a severe geomagnetic storm”, he said.

The CESSI said the sun produced strong solar flares beginning on May 8, resulting in five outbursts of plasma capable of disrupting satellites in orbit and power grids here on Earth.

“We are witnessing severe Space Weather at levels we have not seen in the last two decades. It might get worse as more solar storms are expected to impact Earth or maybe just more spectacular auroras for all,” Mr. Nandi said.

The U.S.’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is calling this an unusual event, pointing out that the flares seem to be associated with a sunspot that’s 16 times the diameter of Earth. An extreme geomagnetic storm in 2003 took out power in Sweden and damaged power transformers in South Africa.

Rare stable auroral red arc event in Ladakh due to solar storms, creating spectacular northern lights in high latitudes

In Ladakh, astronomers at the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve saw a red glow on the northwest horizon in the sky from about 1 am on May 11 that continued till early dawn.

“We were fortunate to witness Aurora activities on our all-sky camera during regular telescope observations,” Stanzin Norla, an engineer at the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve, told PTI.

He said a faint red glow was visible to the naked eye along the horizon and the event was captured in much detail by a DSLR camera installed at the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve.

“It streaked through the sky from about 1 am till 3:30 am,” Stanzin said, adding that the skies turned red along the horizon and to a pinkish hue later.

Dorje Angchuk, an engineer at the Indian Astronomical Observatory in Hanle, described the event as a stable auroral red arc, which was a rare occurrence over the skies at Ladakh.

“Auroras seen near the north or south poles are dynamic events. They keep changing. But the one witnessed at Ladakh was more stable. It is called the stable auroral red arc. The steady glow remained in the sky for a couple of hours”, Angchuk said.

Such events are rare at Hanle because it is located far south, Dibyendu Nandi, Head, CESSI at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, told PTI.

He said the chances of such events being witnessed at places such as Hanle become higher during intense disturbances triggered by solar storms.

“These auroral red arcs are likely caused by heating of the atmosphere by electric currents that are circulating between Earth and outer space,” Mr. Nandi said.

“These ring currents get enhanced during geomagnetic disturbances induced by solar storms and thus the likelihood of observing the red auroral arcs is higher at times when we are in the midst of a severe geomagnetic storm”, he said.

The CESSI said the sun produced strong solar flares beginning on May 8, resulting in five outbursts of plasma capable of disrupting satellites in orbit and power grids here on Earth.

“We are witnessing severe Space Weather at levels we have not seen in the last two decades. It might get worse as more solar storms are expected to impact Earth or maybe just more spectacular auroras for all,” Mr. Nandi said.

The U.S.’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is calling this an unusual event, pointing out that the flares seem to be associated with a sunspot that’s 16 times the diameter of Earth. An extreme geomagnetic storm in 2003 took out power in Sweden and damaged power transformers in South Africa.