Solar storm brings aurora to Ladakh

A powerful solar storm has struck Earth, unleashing dazzling light displays in the sky. This storm, the most intense in more than two decades, has sparked auroras in Ladakh, defying its mid-latitude location. (PTI photo)

Dorje Angchuk, an engineer at the Indian Astronomical Observatory in Hanle, described the event as a stable auroral red arc, a rare occurrence in Ladakh's skies. "Auroras near the poles are dynamic, constantly changing. However, the one in Ladakh remained stable, known as the stable auroral red arc. It persisted for hours," Angchuk explained. (ANI photo)

Aurora borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, made a rare appearance in Ladakh, visible at 34-36°N, much lower latitudes than usual. This phenomenon is anticipated to persist over the weekend in Ladakh as more coronal mass ejections reach Earth's outer atmosphere. (AP photo)

Astronomers at the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve in Ladakh observed a red glow on the northwest horizon from around 1 am on Saturday until early dawn. "We were lucky to capture Aurora activity on our all-sky camera while conducting routine telescope observations," said Stanzin Norla, an engineer at the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve, to PTI. (PTI photo)

This rare atmospheric phenomenon manifests as a band of reddish light visible in the sky. Unlike the traditional auroras that exhibit a diverse range of colors in dynamic patterns, these auroral arcs maintain a fixed color and remain static. This unique occurrence occurs specifically during powerful geomagnetic storms. (AP photo)

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center has confirmed a severe (G4) Geomagnetic storm, rated as G4 on NOAA's scale. (AFP photo)

A string of intense solar storms has amplified the visibility of the northern lights, extending their reach far beyond typical bounds. This Saturday night, Canada anticipates another breathtaking display, with scientists forecasting vibrant auroras that could also grace the skies of the northern United States and certain regions of Europe. (AFP photo)

The skies over southern Australia have been illuminated by the Aurora australis following an "intense" geomagnetic solar storm. Social media users shared images of vividly colored skies in Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and even across the Tasman in New Zealand. (AFP photo)

The Aurora Borealis, usually confined to northern regions of Finland, lit up the skies in southern Finland on Friday night. A succession of potent solar flares is currently reaching Earth, triggering significant geomagnetic storms and making the Northern Lights visible across Finland throughout the weekend. (AFP photo)

In Chile, where the phenomenon is known as aurora australis or southern lights, both local media and social media users shared images of the sky over the city of Punta Arenas adorned with hues of reds and magentas. Similarly, reports from local media in Argentina highlighted similar vibrant colors illuminating the sky over the Patagonian city of Ushuaia. (Reuters photo)

Auroras are captivating ribbons of light that gracefully dance across the sky, typically observed over the Earth's poles. Accordingly, they are referred to as the Northern or Southern lights, depending on their position of visibility. (Agencies photo)