As of: May 12, 2024 9:03 a.m
A solar storm caused northern lights to appear over Lower Saxony at the weekend. According to astronomers, it is the first extreme solar storm in more than 20 years.
The natural phenomenon could be seen with the naked eye in many places in Germany, especially on Saturday night. The further north you are, the greater the chance of seeing them, said Carolin Liefke from the Haus der Astronomie in Heidelberg on Friday. Numerous users shared pictures of the spectacular natural spectacle in online networks.
The last extreme solar storm was in 2003
The cause of the northern lights is an extreme solar storm of level 5. According to experts from the US weather agency NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), this highest category was last reached in October 2003. The source region of the solar storms – a large sunspot cluster – is about 16 times the diameter of the Earth, according to NOAA experts.
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Solar storm can affect technologies
The solar storm could affect GPS, power grids, spacecraft, satellite navigation and other technologies, NOAA said. Authorities notified satellite and power grid operators as well as airlines to take precautions against possible disruptions.
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