Status: 01.12.2023, 11:32 a.m.
By: Tanja Banner
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A plasma cloud from the Sun is heading for Earth and could cause aurora borealis in Germany today. How to observe the colorful light in the sky.
Munich – The sun is becoming more and more active and, according to forecasts, will reach its maximum activity in the coming year. But even now there is a lot going on on the sun. After the solar storm that made aurora borealis visible throughout Germany on November 5, 2023, the colorful aurora borealis could now dance in the sky again. On Wednesday evening (29 November), the sun threw a huge amount of hot plasma into space during a violent eruption. This plasma cloud is now on its way towards Earth.
The solar flare that ejected the plasma corresponded to a class of M9.8 – only a few percentage points away from the strongest category X. But this is not the main reason why aurora borealis can now be expected on Earth. In addition to the strength of the outburst, something else is responsible for this: the direction in which the plasma cloud is moving. The eruption of November 29 was directed towards Earth, which is why the hot plasma is also moving in our direction.
Sun hurls plasma to Earth – Aurora borealis possible in Germany today
On its way toward Earth, the solar storm may be able to "collect" and "cannibalize" several smaller and slower clouds of plasma — which can lead to a stronger geomagnetic storm on Earth. The aurora borealis then becomes stronger and can be seen further south than usual. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center (NOAA's SWPC) expects the solar storm to hit Earth on Dec. 1. Experts expect a level G3 geomagnetic storm on Earth.
Level 3 Geomagnetic Storm Expected – Mid-Latitude Auroras
According to SWPC, G3 means that, for example, satellites in Earth orbit are affected by increased air resistance and there may be problems with satellite navigation. High-frequency radio may be intermittently interrupted. Strong geomagnetic storms can have even worse effects on Earth's infrastructure. But the most important thing for many observers on Earth is a clearly visible effect of a solar storm: aurora. This can be seen in a geomagnetic storm of magnitude G3 up to mid-latitudes – the SWPC gives a width of 50 degrees.
This means that the Northern Lights could be possible in Germany on 1 December. For orientation: Germany stretches from 47 to 55 degrees north latitude, the 50th parallel runs roughly through Frankfurt am Main. Munich is located roughly on the 48th parallel. The aurora expert Michael Passarge from the solar observatory Bad Salzschlirf is optimistic to the dpa: He sees good chances that the aurora borealis in Germany can also be seen south to about Frankfurt or possibly even beyond.
Aurora borealis over Norway. The closer you are to the North Pole, the more often and stronger Aurora Borealis can be seen in the sky. (Archive photo) © IMAGO/Andreas Strauss
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"A bull's eye!" Is there an aurora show over Germany today?
Space weather expert Tamitha Skov rejoices on Platform X (formerly Twitter): "A bull's eye! The storm is expected to hit Earth at noon on December 1." She predicts, "Together with two previous storms already on the way, we have a 1,2,3 strike. If the magnetic field is properly aligned, the aurora will reach deep into the mid-latitudes."
Dark skies, view to the north – How to observe the Northern Lights
To observe the aurora borealis, the sky should be as dark as possible, and no clouds should disturb the view. Because the aurora borealis moves from the North Pole to the south (Aurora Borealis) in our latitudes, you have to look north to spot it – preferably outside of built-up areas, with dark skies. In the southern hemisphere of the Earth, the opposite is true: There, the aurora comes from the south pole (Aurora Australis) and travels northwards, so you have to orient yourself towards the south.
How are aurora borealis formed?
Aurora Borealis (technical term: Aurora Borealis) is caused by the action of the sun. When charged plasma from the Sun hits the Earth, it interacts with our planet's magnetic field. Magnetic short circuits in the Earth's magnetic field guide the plasma to the polar regions, where auroras are often seen. If a particularly strong solar storm hits the Earth, the auroras can also be visible further south.
In case of clouds and bad weather: Northern Lights in the livestream
Special websites such as Polarlicht-Vorhersage.de and smartphone apps such as "Aurora Alerts" inform you when the celestial spectacle starts. The Aurora Forum of the Arbeitskreis Meteore e.V. is also a good place to go when you can see the Northern Lights.
If you live too far south or have bad luck with the weather and can't admire the Northern Lights in the sky yourself, you can find a substitute on the Internet: There are numerous webcams that show aurora borealis from the far north in a livestream. The Northern Lights can be seen much more often there than in Germany. (tab)