Northern Lights illuminate Cyprus skies for the second time in 2024

The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, were seen over Cyprus for the second time in 2024, marking a rare occurrence for the Mediterranean island.

A geomagnetic storm, reaching its peak, caused the aurora to be visible from lower latitudes than usual. The phenomenon was captured on camera by Kitasweather at around 1:30 a.m. local time, from Prasteio Kellaki, facing northward.

The aurora displayed a red hue, a result of intense solar activity. This color is linked to lower-energy particle collisions with oxygen atoms at high altitudes, typically between 300 to 400 kilometers above the Earth’s surface.

The previous sighting in Cyprus occurred on May 11, 2024, underscoring the rarity of such a celestial event in the region. Experts attribute the sightings to heightened solar activity, which can produce geomagnetic storms strong enough to extend the aurora’s visibility to more southerly locations.

The Northern Lights were visible worldwide on Thursday night following a powerful solar storm that lit up skies across various regions.

[Information sourced from Kitasweather]