The Indian Astronomical Observatory above Mount Saraswati captured a rare phenomenon as a geomagnetic storm struck Earth's magnetic field, creating unique auroras. The auroras are normally seen at higher altitudes in parts of Alaska, Norway, and other countries.
This was the first time that the aurora was captured on camera in India by the Indian Astronomical Observatory. The 360-degree camera atop the IAO in Ladakh Hanle captured the mysterious phenomenon, which is triggered by an interaction between the plasma particles hurled by the Sun and Earth's magnetic field.
"The aurora lights were seen due to an intense geomagnetic storm that hit the Earth. It is extremely rare to see the aurora at such a low latitude," the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, which operates the observatory at the height of over 3000 meters above sea level, said in a tweet.
The aurora was captured on April 22-23 night after a coronal mass ejection was hurtled from the Sun on April 21. "The CME struck Earth at a speed of 21,60,000 kilometers per hour," Wageesh Mishra, Assistant Professor at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics added.
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When a coronal mass ejection is released, it sends billions of tons of charged particles hurtling into space at incredible speeds. These particles can travel at up to 3 million kilometers per hour, and if they're aimed in the direction of Earth, they can cause all sorts of effects when they arrive.One of the most significant effects of a CME hitting Earth is a geomagnetic storm. A geomagnetic storm is a disturbance in Earth's magnetic field caused by the arrival of a CME's charged particles. When these particles interact with Earth's magnetic field, they can cause all sorts of electrical and magnetic disruptions.
Wageesh added that the geoeffective CME led to an excellent night for auroral activity. The aurora came to lower-than-usual latitudes overnight leading to rare sightings of from Europe, China & Ladakh in India. Such a severe geomagnetic storm last occurred in 2015.
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Source : Indiatoday
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