An aurora borealis is always a amazing show. We already saw something similar in May. At that time, the most powerful solar storm in more than two decades hit the Earth, causing this phenomenon in several parts of the world, something unusual in areas like Spain. Now, another peak of solar activity has already left the first images.
The Solar Dynamics Observatory of the POT explains that the Sun has expelled some of the most powerful solar flares since there are records. An eruption that is expected to impact the Earth’s atmosphere in the coming days.
How are they produced?
The popularizer Pedro Gargatilla explained on ABC that they are due to the fact that the sun emits a constant flow of cosmic radiation in all directions – the solar wind – that sweeps space at one and a half million kilometers per hour. He earth’s magnetic field It prevents these particles from hitting the Earth. When cosmic radiation contacts the magnetic field it is catapulted towards the magnetosphere where it collides with oxygen and nitrogen atoms, causing the emission of light.
Gargantilla points out that we should talk about “polar aurora” when the phenomenon occurs in the northern hemisphere and “austral aurora” when it occurs in the southern hemisphere. «If we could travel to other planets in the solar system we could enjoy shows similar. On Mercury, Uranus, Jupiter, Saturn and Neptune they have similar auroral effects, because they have magnetic fields that generate them. However, Venus and Mars lack them,” he points out.
Scientist Mar Gómez explains in tiempo.es the reasons why they can be seen at low latitudes, and therefore are visible in Spain.
It turns out that this past Tuesday, a large solar flare and coronal mass ejection occurred on our Sun.
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, which constantly observes the Sun, captured an image of the event. pic.twitter.com/1zBl7LkIEz
— Mar Gómez (@MarGomezH) October 10, 2024
Where to see the northern lights?
This weekend, and on Friday if the weather is good we will be able to see the northern lights on October 11, 12 and 13 after sunset. The collision of these particles could cause the appearance of the northern lights at lower latitudes than usual. The impressive images have already plagued the networks. And this October 12 the session will be double with the comet of the century.
They have been observed in Castilla y León and in the skies of Barcelona or Tarragona. The best areas to observe them are those with little light pollution, a certain altitude and areas with clear skies.
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In Catalonia there is the Prades Astronomical Park and the Serra de Montsant or the Pyrenees.
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In the Valencian Community is the region of Los Serranos, Aras de los Olmos is a Starlight Destination and the Alto Turia Biosphere Reserve.
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In Galicia, the Atlantic Islands National Park
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In Asturias in Allande.
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In Cantabria, in the Pasiegos Valleys or the Liébana Valley.
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The Basque sky of Behatokizki, in the Izki natural park.
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In Navarra in the Roncal Valley and the town of Lerín.
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The Rioja Biosphere Reserve located in the Leza, Jubera, Cidacos and Alhama valleys.
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In Extremadura in Moraleja, Serrejón or Fuentes de León.
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In the Community of Madrid in the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park.
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In Castilla y León in the Gredos Regional Park (Ávila) or in Muriel Viejo (Soria).
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In Murcia in Caravaca de la Cruz and the Hermitage of La Encarnación.
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In Andalusia in the Poqueira ravine (in the Alpujarras of Granada) or Cuevas del Becerro (Málaga).
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In Aragon in the Albarracín mountain range, the Gudar region or the Mining Basins region.
Weather forecasts indicate that cloudiness will be in the west and south of the country, while in the north and east, these will be high clouds which may allow better visibility of this spectacle.
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