Aurora Borealis, Polar lights May 2024,Europe

(Composite of four individual shots, Sony a73, 24mm f2, Iso 1600, exp 2sec, Sigma Art)

Almost after nearly 20 years waiting time there was finally an extreme polar sighting again in southern Bavaria (Very seldom in this southern lain areas). This great light spectacle was really fantastic and in addition a historical event. I would even classify this aurora as extremely bright. Above all the beamers and bows etc.. were noticable very intense in all colours by recocnising three main phases from 20:30 - 01:30 UTC with a very high KP Index of 9° *

Related to the photo on the top of this site, fast changing colours inside the very bright 180° bow up to a max. height of 50° (duration of brightest phase about 15 min ( ~ 22:15 UTC).

And the next aurora phenomen !

RAGDA - spots !    ~ 22:30 - 23:15h UTC ( ~ 00:30 - 01:15h CEST)

But what does it means? This is a very late discovered aurora phenomenon. Red Arc with Green Diffuse Aurora. The seldom stunnig apperance offers pulsing green clouds in accordance of red arcs. It seems that you observe a fantastic celestial disco lighting which you can OBSERVE CLEARLY WITH THE NAKED EYE ( Video 6 ).



Sony a73, Sigma Art 24mm, f2, Iso 3200, exp 1sec,

AURORA TIME LAPSE / RAGDA   Video 6

Sony a73, Sigma Art 24mm, f2, Iso 3200, exp 1sec,

The colored pulsing sky in a wide angle objektiv. (Nikon Fisheye 10,5mm, 180°, ,f4, 7sec, streched horizontal)

Video 7 (timelapse of 9 minutes, begin 00.44 CEST)        Video 8 (timelapse of 12 minutes, begin 00.55 CEST)

Three hours in one minute, beginn ~ 22:30 UTC ( ~ 00.30 CEST)

Video 9

And may the next aurora phenomen !

The sky claw    ~ 23:10 UTC ( ~ 01.10 CEST)

And this special was shown at the southern sky behind us (height ca. 60°). It looks like a big claw wich wanted to crab me. A new observation rarity ?



(Nikon Fisheye 10,5mm, 180°, Iso 1600, f4, exp. 7sec, streched horizontal)

AURORA TIME LAPSE / ClAW    Video 10     Video 11 Video 12

Vertical colourful beamer nearly in same location of the "claw"

The beamer have now a weak south - west alignment

Third aurora ca. 01:00 UTC, (03:00 CEST,11th of May)

The last show



Beamers shining through the beginning dawn

Aurora (weak visual) in the next evening ca. 20.30 UTC, ( 22:30 CEST, 11th of May )

Trigger: X1.0-flare, as well as a series of other flares. Effect: G5 storm with a very high KP Index of 9° *

KP index*: Roughly speaking, auroras can already be observed visually from KP 5-6 (G1/2 storm) in northern Germany. At KP 7/8 (G3/4 storm) or above in southern Germany (Alps to southern Europe). Among other things, the density and speed of the flares or CME's (earth directed solar mass ejection forms) or corona holes are relevant parameters for the strength of the solar storms and visual sightings. But the Bz value which definite the north- south alignment of the earth magnetic field ( May 24, Bz -50nT ) is the most important factor. If this Bz value is to weak, the protons can't invade in the earth magnetic field. By the way, the glowing phenomenon is triggered by animated nitrogen atoms. Up to 100 km green, 100-200 km red and above purple.

Three hours in one minute, beginn ~ 22:30 UTC ( ~ 00.30 CEST)