Today, the Earth has entered a stream of solar wind emanating from the southern coronal hole in the Sun’s atmosphere. Despite the fact that the magnetic storm reached average values (Kr4), the Earth’s magnetic field failed and powerful auroras were observed.
A powerful purple glow was recorded in the sky over Alberta, Canada.
Harlan Thomas photographed a flash of auroras northwest of Calgary:
“They moved like a huge wave in the ocean, literally sweeping the horizon in less than 30 seconds. I have never seen purple pillars before, and they could be seen with the naked eye. ”
Purple auroras are a sign of nitrogen. Ionized nitrogen (N 2 +) molecules in the upper atmosphere are excited by falling particles of the solar wind, emitting a characteristic purple glow.
