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(GIST OF SCIENCE REPORTER) AURORAS

(NOVEMBER-2024)

Auroras were captured at India’s highest observatory in Hanle, Ladakh.

A spectacular display of auroras lit up the skies over Leh, India, as a severe geomagnetic storm struck Earth on October 10, 2024.
The auroras were captured at India’s highest observatory in Hanle.
This event was triggered by a powerful coronal mass ejection (CME) from the Sun, which reached Earth earlier today. The CME originated from an X1.8 solar flare that occurred on October 9, and it travelled at speeds exceeding 1.5 million miles per hour.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) classified the geomagnetic storm as G4, indicating severe conditions that could disrupt power grids and satellite operations.
Such storms can cause auroras to be visible much further south than usual, with reports suggesting sightings as far south as Alabama and northern California in the United States.
The geomagnetic storm is part of an ongoing period of heightened solar activity as the Sun approaches its solar maximum, expected to peak in 2025.