The auroras that graced the skies around the world just two weekends ago might have achieved more than simply enchanting nighttime observers. According to NASA, these stunning displays may have been among the strongest auroras seen in the past 500 years. Researchers have noted that the “barrage” of solar flares and coronal mass ejections (Comes) responsible for this month’s auroras created a remarkable storm of geomagnetic activity, one that is expected to be studied for years to come.
The Role of NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory
This exciting revelation comes from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) team, which has been monitoring solar activity and its impact on Earth since 2010. As the SDO orbits our planet, it employs a four-telescope atmospheric imaging assembly (AIR) to capture images of the Sun’s surface and atmosphere in ten different wavelengths. This advanced technology enabled the SDO to document numerous intense solar flares and seven Comes during the first week of May.
The SDO team reported that eight of the observed solar flares were classified as X-class, the highest level on the solar flare scale. While these flares peaked at X5.8, a subsequent flare on May 14 was identified as the most powerful of this solar cycle, reaching X8.7. Additionally, the Comes that erupted from the Sun’s surface traveled at speeds of up to 3 million miles per hour, resulting in a prolonged G5 geomagnetic storm—the strongest type of storm, not seen since 2003 and 1958.
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Unprecedented Aurora Visibility
Together, these solar events created conditions that allowed auroras to extend far beyond their usual polar confines. Sky gazers across North America, Europe, Asia, and even Africa were able to witness these colorful displays right in their backyards. For many, this marked the first opportunity to see an “at-home” aurora since the 2003 geomagnetic storm, allowing individuals in places like Florida and Greece to experience displays that typically require traveling north.
This time, NASA enlisted the help of the public to gage how far south these auroras extended. Through Aurorasaurus, one of the agency’s citizen science projects, NASA utilized reports from everyday observers to map the extent of this Aurora event. Reports indicated that this month’s auroras were visible as far south as 26 degrees magnetic latitude. While scientists are still assessing how this visibility compares to historical events, NASA suggests that these sightings “may rival some of the lowest-latitude aurora observations on record in the last five centuries.”
Looking Ahead: Understanding Solar Storms
Dr. Delores Knipp, a space weather research professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, noted, “it is a little hard to gage storms over time because our technology is always changing. Aurora visibility is not the perfect measure, but it allows us to compare over centuries.”
Teresa Nieves-Chinchilla, acting director of NASA’s Moon to Mars (M2M) Space Weather Analysis Office, emphasized that May’s auroras will assist researchers in “testing the limits of our models and understanding of solar storms.” As the space science community refines its models and tools based on new insights into solar and geomagnetic storm activity, organizations like NASA will be better equipped to prepare for long-term satellite missions, crewed explorations, and infrastructure projects.
Conclusion
May’s auroras could indeed be the most powerful in 500 years, making this an extraordinary moment for scientists and sky watchers alike. As researchers continue to study the implications of these solar events, the opportunity to witness such a spectacle is a reminder of the awe-inspiring forces of nature at play in our universe. Whether you were one of the fortunate observers or simply following the events from afar, the significance of this month’s auroras will resonate within the scientific community for years to come.
