Due to a solar storm, northern lights could also be seen over Germany on Sunday night. In which period and in which region this might be the case is still unclear, said Carolin Liefke from the Association of Star Friends in Heppenheim, Hesse.
“There was a matching solar flare,” Liefke said. “There is a warning that you should keep your eyes open.” In the worst case scenario, however, the phenomenon could also appear during the day and therefore not be detectable.
In order to observe the northern lights, the weather conditions must be as clear as possible. Over the middle of Germany, possibly also in the north, there could be easing on Sunday night, said Tanja Sauter from the German Weather Service (DWD). “Things aren’t looking quite so good in the southwest,” emphasized the meteorologist.
A clear view to the north is important
Ideally, you should observe the northern lights far away from artificial light sources: “You shouldn’t stand under the nearest street lamp, but rather as far away from the city as possible,” Liefke advised in case the northern lights can be seen. You also need a clear view of the northern horizon.
The cause of the phenomenon is solar flares, which result in a so-called coronal mass ejection towards Earth, which consists of electrons, protons and atomic nuclei. Because components of the plasma are electrically charged, they interact with the earth’s magnetic field and essentially compress it. Magnetic short circuits in the tail of the earth’s magnetic field generate particle flows into the polar regions, which stimulate the air particles to glow, which becomes visible as green or red glowing auroras.
