Aurora Borealis over Andalucía

Last night around three in the morning the skies were lit up by the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis. If you missed it, there may be some tonight or tomorrow night, as well.

AND aurorae Borealis Northern LightsThe aurorae are caused by charged particles ejected from the Sun. When these particles reach the Earth, they collide with gas molecules in the planet’s upper atmosphere, reacting with them with the result of dancing, multicoloured lights in the sky.

Of course, this fascinating display you would normally see near the North and South Poles but this week they have coloured our night’s skies, too — it all depends on the intensity of solar storms or solar activity, if you find that less alarming.

The changes to Magnetic North are accelerating because whereas at the end of last century the magnetic pole was drifting 10 kilometres a year, lately they have been moving closer to 55 kilometres each year. Yikes! But don’t panic, Mr Mainwaring!

When there is a lot of solar activity, as is the case now, not only does it produce these light displays but it also causes havoc with radio communication. At the moment, the Pacific area has experienced this kind of disruption, for instance.

It takes between 18 hours and 48 hours for the solar wind to reach the Earth’s magnetic field. The sun goes through 10 to 11-year cycles of low and high activity. The stronger the solar storm; the lower down the Northern Lights can be seen, so for us to be seeing them down here, the Sun is pumping out charged particles as if it were on steroids.

So, tonight, tomorrow night and possible as late as Monday, you will have the chance to see a display — not as pronounced as in Norway, for example, but enough to colour the night sky.

Youtube Video.

(News/Andalucia)

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