In Russia, the Northern lights could be observed at night — even in Moscow

In recent days, magnetic storms have been observed on Earth, which cause disturbances in the planet's magnetosphere. This phenomenon leads to the appearance of the aurora borealis, or northern lights, which can be seen in the night sky. On September 18-19, residents of several Russian cities witnessed this amazing natural phenomenon.

The strength of geomagnetic disturbances has reached a level of 5 points, which corresponds to a weak storm according to the definition of the Laboratory of Solar Astronomy ICI and ISSF. This means that the magnetic fluctuations were strong enough to cause a bright aurora borealis.

Residents of different cities of Russia shared photos of this amazing natural phenomenon on social networks. The pictures were taken in Yekaterinburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Leningrad and Moscow regions, Karelia and Ugra. Even the passengers of the St. Petersburg - Moscow flight noticed the glow during the flight.

Magnetic fluctuations will continue to increase and it is expected that the peak of the storm will be at 12:00 Moscow time. If the storm does not subside by nightfall, then Russians will be able to enjoy this unusual natural phenomenon again.

Magnetic storms are the result of the interaction of the solar wind with the Earth's magnetosphere. Charged particles of the solar wind collide with atoms in the upper atmosphere and cause their excitation. The result is a glow that creates patterns in the night sky. The Northern Lights are usually seen in the polar regions, but with strong magnetic storms it can be seen in other parts of the world.

Historical information:

The Northern Lights have been known since ancient times. In ancient times, people explained this phenomenon with various mythological and religious ideas. For example, in Scandinavian mythology, the northern lights were associated with the god Thor, who created sparks in the sky with a hammer. In other cultures, the northern lights were considered a harbinger of important events or even disasters.

Scientific information:

Magnetic storms and the northern lights have been studied by scientists for many years. They are trying to understand exactly how the solar wind interacts with the Earth's magnetosphere and how it affects our planet. Scientists are also studying the impact of magnetic storms on technology and communications, as they can cause interference in the operation of satellites and electronic systems.

"Magnetic storms are a very interesting phenomenon that helps us better understand the nature of the Sun and its influence on the Earth. They also create beautiful and impressive patterns in the night sky that we can observe. But it is important to remember that magnetic storms can cause problems in the operation of technologies and communications, so we must be prepared for them."

Background information:

- Magnetic storms are disturbances in the Earth's magnetosphere caused by the interaction of the solar wind with the magnetic field of the planet.

- The Northern Lights are a glow in the upper atmosphere caused by charged particles of the solar wind.

- Magnetic storms can cause interference in the operation of satellites and electronic systems.