Northern Lights Illuminate Belgian Sky Amidst “Extreme” Solar Storm

A rare and stunning display of the Northern Lights graced the Belgian sky on Friday evening, a spectacle brought about by an “extreme” solar storm making its way towards Earth. This phenomenon, typically confined to polar regions, was witnessed in several European countries, including regions where such sightings are uncommon, like Belgium.

What are the Northern Lights?

Allez hop, pour fêter cette belle nuit, rien de tel qu'un time-lapse des #auroresboreales au dessus du massif de la chartreuse !

(oui oui c'est dingue) pic.twitter.com/prcc1QhUjH

— AurorAlpes (@AurorAlpes) May 11, 2024

The Northern Lights, also known as Aurora Borealis, are a natural light display that occurs in the polar regions of the Earth’s atmosphere. They are caused by the interaction between the solar wind (charged particles from the sun) and the Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere. When these charged particles collide with gases in the Earth’s atmosphere, such as oxygen and nitrogen, they produce bright, colorful lights that can be seen in the sky.

The colors of the Northern Lights depend on the type of gas and the altitude at which the collisions occur. The most common colors are green and pink, but they can also appear as red, yellow, blue, and violet. The Northern Lights are most commonly visible in the Arctic regions, such as Alaska, Canada, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia, during the winter months.

Reasons behind this Spectacular Natural Phenomenon:

The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, are visible in the sky due to a combination of factors related to the Earth’s magnetic field and the solar wind. Here’s a brief overview of the reasons behind this spectacular natural phenomenon:

1. Solar Wind: The Sun emits a stream of charged particles called the solar wind. When these particles reach Earth, they are guided by the planet’s magnetic field towards the polar regions.
2. Magnetic Field: Earth has a magnetic field that extends from its interior into space. This magnetic field deflects the solar wind particles towards the poles, where they interact with the Earth’s atmosphere.
3. Atmospheric Interaction: As the solar wind particles collide with molecules in the Earth’s atmosphere, such as oxygen and nitrogen, they transfer energy to these molecules. This energy is then released in the form of light, creating the Northern Lights.
4. Altitude: The colors of the Northern Lights depend on the altitude at which the collisions occur. Oxygen molecules at lower altitudes (up to 150 kilometers) produce green and red lights, while nitrogen molecules at higher altitudes (above 150 kilometers) produce blue and purple lights.
5. Geomagnetic Storms: Sometimes, the Sun emits a particularly strong solar wind, causing disturbances in the Earth’s magnetic field. This can lead to more intense and widespread displays of the Northern Lights, even at lower latitudes than usual.

Enthusiastic spectators across Germany, the Netherlands, France, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom shared mesmerizing photos of the illuminated night skies, capturing the ethereal dance of colors. This event marks a rare occurrence, with the Northern Lights previously visible in Belgium at the beginning of November.

The exceptional display was prompted by conditions associated with a level 5 geomagnetic storm, the highest level on the scale, as reported by the American Oceanic and Atmospheric Observing Agency (NOAA). This storm, caused by a series of coronal mass ejections from the Sun, has the potential to impact GPS systems, power grids, spacecraft, satellite navigation, and other technologies, according to the agency.

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Shawn Dahl from the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) explained that coronal mass ejections are “explosions of energetic particles and magnetic fields coming from the sun.” This event marks a significant occurrence, with the last level 5 storm observed in October 2003, dubbed the “Halloween storms,” which resulted in power outages in Sweden and transformer damage in South Africa.

Gonna cry 🥹 #noorderlicht #limburg #belgium @hbvl @NoodweerBenelux @RubenWeytjens pic.twitter.com/FdVW3jPnJC

— Janne (@FJnn_3) May 10, 2024

The solar storm is expected to persist over the weekend, with additional coronal mass ejections reaching Earth. The first of these “very strong” ejections arrived around 4:30 p.m. GMT on Friday. The Sun is currently nearing the peak of its 11-year activity cycle, with at least seven observed coronal mass ejections directed towards Earth, originating from a sunspot approximately 17 times the diameter of Earth, moving at several hundred kilometers per second.

As the solar storm continues, sky gazers and enthusiasts are advised to stay tuned for potential further sightings of this celestial spectacle in unexpected locations, reminding us of the awe-inspiring wonders of the universe.

Crazy!!!! #Noorderlicht pic.twitter.com/kvQFwkWCgl

— Jelle Van den Berghe (@JelleVdBerghe) May 10, 2024

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