Magical northern lights shine over Berlin: a spectacular natural spectacle!

Magical northern lights shine over Berlin: a spectacular natural spectacle!

Northern lights, also known as Aurora Borealis, lit up the sky over Berlin and many other regions of Germany on Monday evening. Residents in Pankow shared their excitement on social media after learning about the spectacular natural spectacle on Instagram. It was an unforgettable experience, the Northern Lights were visible not only in the capital, but also in cities such as Calbe an der Saale, Oberried-Hofsgrund, Duisburg and Flensburg. According to that Daily Mirror Many onlookers gathered to admire this phenomenal display of light in the sky.

Northern lights are caused by eruptions on the sun's surface, in which charged particles are thrown into space. These particles are directed toward the poles by the Earth's magnetic field and stimulate the air molecules in the Earth's upper atmosphere, resulting in the dazzling light phenomena. The best chances to observe these natural phenomena are in the dark winter months in the far north. However, they can also appear at lower latitudes, such as Germany, when solar activity is high.

Origin and manifestations

The auroras occur in bands near the magnetic poles and are the result of high-energy, charged particles from the solar wind interacting with Earth's atmosphere. The height of these light phenomena varies: red light is produced at an altitude of around 250 km, while green light is produced at an altitude of around 120 km. The Northern Lights are most commonly found in polar regions such as Alaska, Canada, Finland, Iceland and Norway. Over the years, auroras have also been observed on other planets with magnetic fields and atmospheres, including Mars, and even outside the solar system, where they were astronomically 10,000 times stronger than those observed on Jupiter.

The colors of the auroras depend on the gases excited: oxygen can emit green or red light, nitrogen often produces violet or blue hues. Loud Wikipedia Various forms of auroras occur, including corona, quiet arcs and bands. Dark areas within the auroras are called anti-auroras, where the flow of electrons stops.

Current observations and recommendations

Current observations show that the frequency of auroras in mid-latitudes such as Germany depends on solar activity, which follows an approximately 11-year cycle. During the last solar maximum in 2024, there were numerous eruptions, increasing the chances of seeing auroras. These lights are best seen on clear evenings and nights between 6 p.m. and 2 a.m., especially away from city lights.

Not only are auroras a fascinating spectacle, but they can also generate electromagnetic fields that affect electrical devices, including satellites and power grids. Recent research has also shown that sounds associated with auroras can be caused by inversion layers in the atmosphere, which is another fascinating element of this natural spectacle.